Chinese search engine Baidu again accused of copyright infringements

Today, Content Provider Union (CPU), which represents developers of games for mobile devices, announced they are suing Chinese search engine Baidu. CPU has accused Baidu of providing unauthorized downloads for more than 350 games designed by member firms and is therefore infringing copyright.

CPU claims a compensation of thirty million Chinese yuan (approximately 3,5 million euros) for copyright infringements. Baidu spokesman Kaiser Kuo said his company was adhering to the law.
"We have never uploaded games to our platform that are in any violation of copyright”, according to Kuo, adding that the Internet firm had no intention of shutting down the platform for the time being.

This is not the first time that search engine Baidu is accused of copyright infringements. In July this year, Baidu settled the lawsuit with One-Stop China, a Chinese joint venture of Universal Music, Warner Music and Sony Music, to distribute music from the three major firms online, ending a prolonged legal battle over copyright infringement. In addition, a court in Shanghai condemned Baidu to pay 500 thousand yuan to a Chinese literary website for copyright infringements in May this year.

Reference: Google news

By: Karen Groen