BIZCHINA / Photo
Copyright payout
(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-04-25 08:57
Yahoo! Inc's China unit has been ordered to pay compensation to 11 music
companies for copyright violations. Its website, operated by Alibaba.com
Corp, must delete links to 229 songs on non-affiliated sites and pay
210,000 yuan in compensation to companies including EMI Group, according
to the Beijing Second Intermediate People's Court ruling, which was
posted on the website of China's Supreme People's Court yesterday. [AP]
Yahoo! China has lost a lawsuit filed by 11 major record companies in
which it stood accused of playing music illegally and allowing netizens
to download tracks free of charge.
The Beijing Second Intermediary Court on Tuesday ordered Yahoo China to
pay 200,000 yuan (about 27,200 U.S. dollars) in damages to the 11
companies which include EMI, Warner Music, Sony BMG Music Entertainment
and Universal Music Group. It also told Yahoo China to delete the links
to the free download websites.
The record companies launched the court proceedings in early January,
saying that the music had been played or downloaded without their
permission, and demanded 5.5 million yuan (about 712,000 U.S. dollars) in
damages.
Yahoo China insists that, as a search engine, it only provides links in
its music search results and should not be held responsible for the
content of third-party websites.
The company issued a statement on line on Tuesday, saying the company
treats intellectual property rights protection very seriously, and has
always abided by Chinese law.
It also said search engines are used to quickly access and present
information that users need, and search engine operators cannot foresee
and control the content to which they provide links.
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