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Copyright payout
(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-04-25 08:57

Copyright payout

Yahoo! Inc's China unit has been ordered to pay compensation to 11 music companies for copyright violations. Its website, operated by Alibaba.com Corp, must delete links to 229 songs on non-affiliated sites and pay 210,000 yuan in compensation to companies including EMI Group, according to the Beijing Second Intermediate People's Court ruling, which was posted on the website of China's Supreme People's Court yesterday. [AP]Copyright payout

Yahoo! China has lost a lawsuit filed by 11 major record companies in which it stood accused of playing music illegally and allowing netizens to download tracks free of charge.

The Beijing Second Intermediary Court on Tuesday ordered Yahoo China to pay 200,000 yuan (about 27,200 U.S. dollars) in damages to the 11 companies which include EMI, Warner Music, Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group. It also told Yahoo China to delete the links to the free download websites.

The record companies launched the court proceedings in early January, saying that the music had been played or downloaded without their permission, and demanded 5.5 million yuan (about 712,000 U.S. dollars) in damages.

Yahoo China insists that, as a search engine, it only provides links in its music search results and should not be held responsible for the content of third-party websites.

The company issued a statement on line on Tuesday, saying the company treats intellectual property rights protection very seriously, and has always abided by Chinese law.

It also said search engines are used to quickly access and present information that users need, and search engine operators cannot foresee and control the content to which they provide links.


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