14 DAY TRIAL // According to Reuters, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group Corp., EMI Group Plc and Universal Music Group are suing Baidu.com Inc.
China's most used search engine is accused of copyright infringement, the music companies saying that Baidu.com has been illegally providing links to free digital music downloads.
According to Bloomberg, the companies filed lawsuits against Baidu in the Beijing Intermediate Court, seeking to stop it from offering the service, Leong May Seey, regional counsel for the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, said by telephone from Hong Kong. Most of the suits were filed in July, with the most recent added on Sept. 8 by Sony, Leong said.
Restrictions on Baidu's services would make it more difficult for the Beijing-based company to maintain its lead in China over Google Inc., the world's biggest search engine company. Nasdaq-listed Baidu's shares plunged 28 percent on Sept. 14 after analysts said the stock is overpriced, citing competitive pressure and the possibility of copyright infringement.
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