Music trade body The International Federation of the
Phonographic Industries (IFPI) said that it, Warner, Sony BMG and
Universal have all filed suits against Baidu, Sohu and a company
associated with it, Sogou.
The actions demand that the internet firms remove links from
their services to copyright infringing material in which the three
firms hold rights, the IFPI said. The cases have been filed with
the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court, it said.
“The music industry in China wants partnership with the
technology companies – but you cannot build partnership on the
basis of systemic theft of copyrighted music and that is why we
have been forced to take further actions," said John Kennedy, chief
executive of the IFPI.
The companies are accused of providing links to copyright
infringing material and earning advertising on the pages carrying
those links. The IFPI said that Sogou was a particularly bad
infringer.
"Sogou also actively induces and encourages copyright
infringement by means of recommendations and charts," said an IFPI
statement.
The labels contend that these kinds of services have recently
been found to break the law in China. It said that a judgment of
the Bejing Higher People's Court against Yahoo! China in December
set a precedent which the others must follow.
The IFPI said that it believes that 99% of music files
transferred in China are pirated, and that the legitimate music
business is only worth $76 million.
“China’s internet companies have a unique opportunity to
demonstrate respect for copyright, take a stand against piracy and
engage in responsible partnership with music companies," said
Kennedy. "It’s a matter of great regret that, despite the clear
precedent laid down by the Yahoo! China judgment, those internet
companies are instead choosing blatant violation of copyright, with
the inevitable and unwanted litigation that follows in its
wake.”
The companies are also taking further action against Yahoo!
China, which they claim has not complied with the December ruling.
They have filed execution proceedings asking the court to force
Yahoo! China to comply with its order on the issue of links to
copyrighted content. Yahoo! China is 44% owned by Yahoo!, which
this week is the subject of a hostile takeover bid from
Microsoft.
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