[photopress:rock_concert.jpg,full,alignright]Baidu.com has a deal with EMI Music which makes legitmates its online music search service which has been accused of encouraging intellectual piracy. Under the agreement, EMI Music authorizes Baidu’s streaming of its Chinese repertoire on Baidu’s music search channel, with Baidu sharing advertising revenue for providing this service.
The two companies have also agreed to explore a free music download service.
Shawn Wang, Baidu’s chief financial officer, stated the cooperation would not alter Baidu’s existing search services so users will still be able to download some copyrighted music free of charge.
There is a theory that a large part of Baidu’s market share — much large than that of Google in China — is due to its music search channel, a controversial service that has seen Baidu accused of copyright violation.
Last November, EMI and a group of leading international record companies, including Sony BMG, Warner Music and Universal Music, lost a lawsuit against Baidu accusing the search firm of engaging in illegal downloading and playing copyrighted music.
Source: China Daily