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Music giants sue Baidu over music downloads
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-09-18 08:29 BEIJING (AFP) - Music giants Universal, EMI,
Warner, Sony BMG and their local subsidiaries are suing China's largest search
engine Baidu for allegedly infringing the copyright of hundreds of songs, the
company said.
"We confirm that Baidu is being sued over alleged
infringement of music copyright," said Baidu's vice president of marketing,
Liang Dong, who did not reveal details.
The music companies allege Baidu has made it easy for users to download
illegal copies of their songs via its MP3 search engine, the Hong Kong-based
Standard newspaper reported, citing a source close to the music companies.
Cinepoly, Go East and Gold Label are also suing Baidu in a move that could
force it to shut down the MP3 search engine, a key to the company's popularity
among young Chinese Internet users, the report said.
Liang said Baidu.com only provides a music search service rather than
downloads and added that the firm was communicating with the plaintiffs.
He was reported to have met several music company executives Wednesday to
discuss copyright issues, the Standard cited a source as saying, adding the goal
was to "cooperate and make a platform for legal music downloads."
Liang said the discussions were "positive."
"From the copyright point of view, we think differently than the music
companies. Baidu is just a platform for music search," Liang said.
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