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Baidu removes free music download links
By Zhu Shenshen (Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2005-10-25 09:21 BAIDU.COM Inc has stopped
providing free music download links on its Website as a compromise to music
publishers, which sued the biggest Chinese online search engine firm over the
issue.
Instead, a warning message has appeared on the Beijing-based company's
Website before users start to download music or songs through Baidu's MP3 search
service.
"The search result (of songs) has been made automatically and Baidu itself
doesn't make and transfer music," the message said. "We pay close attention to
protecting intellectual property rights. If any authors or copyright owners find
the links are pirated songs, please let us know."
Before that, Baidu's users could download songs directly on its MP3 search
result lists.
The share price of Baidu, which went public in August, surged more than
fourfold in its first trading day on Nasdaq.
More than one-third of Baidu's online traffic came from its MP3 search
service, according to the company's file.
Last month, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group Corp, EMI Group
Plc and other music companies filed lawsuits against Baidu in the Beijing
People's Intermediate Court, seeking to stop it from offering the service.
In August, Shanghai Busheng Music Culture Media Co accused Baidu of allowing
unauthorized downloads of 53 songs the company owns the copyright to without
permission.
Busheng is asking Baidu for 560,000 yuan (US$69,104) in compensation for
damages.
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