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May 17, 2008 1:33:25 AM CDT

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Record Labels Sue Chinese Sites to Block Illegal Music  

Posted Apr 7, 08 2:45 AM CDT in World,  Business    Editor's Choice

(newser) – Major record labels are suing two Chinese websites that allegedly allow illegal music downloads in a case that could have a huge impact on the way the Chinese obtain music.  The groundbreaking multi-million dollar case over copyright infringement could pave the way for even larger claims, the Wall Street Journal reports. Spokesmen for the two websites insist they’re not responsible for content they don’t host.

Companies including Sony BMG, Warner and Universal are suing Baidu.com Inc. for $9 million and are seeking $7.5 million from Sogou, a service run by Sohu.com. The music companies hope the case will convince such sites to severe links to illegal downloads. More than half of China’s 225 million internet users get music illegally, and analysts say a certain amount of free music is inevitable in China’s future.

Source Wall Street Journal

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Record Labels Sue Chinese Sites to Block Illegal Music
Workers rest in front of an advertisement for Baidu June 27, 2006 in Shanghai, China.   (AP Photo/Elaine Kurtenbach, File)
Record Labels Sue Chinese Sites to Block Illegal Music
A receptionist works beneath the logo for Baidu.com, a Chinese language search engine, at the company's office in Beijing, in this July 28, 2005, file photo.   (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)
Record Labels Sue Chinese Sites to Block Illegal Music
Sogou, a service of Sohu.com, is being sued by music labels for $7.5 million.   ((c) shizhao)
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China  • music industry  • music downloads  • music label  • Universal Music Group  • Sony BMG  • Warner


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