China court rules for Baidu on downloading

BEIJING, Nov 17 (Reuters) Chinese Internet search leader Baidu.com has been cleared of helping users to download music illegally in a case brought by some of the world's largest music companies, an industry group said today.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, which estimates that about 85 per cent of all music consumed in China is pirated, said it would appeal against the ruling and was confident it would be overturned.

''I am amazed by this inexplicable judgment that is totally out of step with Chinese law,'' IFPI chairman John Kennedy said in a statement.

An IFPI official said the No 1 Intermediate Court of Beijing handed down the decision. Court officials and Baidu executives were unavailable for comment.

The IFPI, which represents the world's music companies, said the case against Baidu had been filed on behalf of EMI Group Plc, Vivendi's Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and Sony BMG.

The trade group has also blasted Yahoo China's search engine for providing links to Web sites that offer unlicensed music downloads.

REUTERS SHB RK1409