Andre Yoskowitz
5 Feb 2008 15:55
Despite being found not guilty in a previous case, China's most used Internet search site Baidu is in legal trouble again.
Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, and Warner Music Group have all sued the site again over illegal music downloads, deeming it a winnable cause after last month's ruling against Yahoo China. The companies are being represented by the IFPI which noted that the record companies had also sued Sohu.com, China's third largest Internet portal.
The IFPI has stated that China's market of legally distributed music files is a minuscule $76 million USD, less than 1 percent of the global market.
"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" and the litigation that accompanies it, said John Kennedy, CEO of the IFPI.