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Google Wants To Launch MP3 Search In China
from the this-could-get-interesting... dept
When Chinese search engine Baidu first went public, some folks pointed out that the main reason why people used it a lot more than Google was that it had an MP3 search engine, which let people find music to download. Google, being afraid of copyright infringement lawsuits, chose not to have such a specific search engine. Of course, once it had gone public, Baidu attracted the attention of record labels as well, and was quickly sued. However, Baidu eventually won that lawsuit -- which does seem like the right decision. Baidu, as a search engine, isn't making any copies of the file itself at all. It's merely linking to where those files are, and it's difficult to see how that's copyright infringement.
Of course, the record labels aren't known for giving up easily, and they simply sued again. However, it appears that Google has seen enough of getting beaten handily in the Chinese market by Baidu, and that initial ruling in favor of Baidu and has apparently decided to set up its own MP3 search engine on its Chinese site. The report notes that Google is first looking to get "approval" from the recording industry, though it's not clear what sort of approval is sought or needed. If it's going to be an industry approved search engine, it's unlikely to do what Google needs it to do. That is, it will most likely be quite limited and locked down, meaning people will just stick with Baidu's.
At the same time, it's still difficult to see why a separate search engine is really necessary. What's wrong with just doing a search with specific parameters included? In fact, some have already automated the process.
Reader Comments
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So Google is now seeking to overtake Baidu's Chinese market share?
But what about all of the branded communities that rely on Baidu's economic impact to make their income?
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Baidu is not a music search engine - it hosts music files
Mike, this is where I have to call you out. A number of Chinese publications have been reporting in the past few months that Baidu is actually hosting music files via anonymous servers all over. This news itself did not get the due publicity and focus it deserves as Baidu simply blocked out links to these news items that shed them in negative light - talk about search engine abuse!
They do not deserve your support in this matter and are simply hiding behind the guise of a music search engine.
Just last month, a minor search engine in China called Zhongsou was found guilty of infringement and its servers seized as it was hosting the music files it purported to search for. And this seems to be the practice amongst music search engines in China, led foremost by Baidu.
Yes, it's hard to side with the labels, but you have been duped in this instance.by Baidu.
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Re: Baidu is not a music search engine - it hosts music files
But the question remains, are the files in question being hosted in a Branded Community? Are they accessible from inside a Branded Community? Or are they just part of a Branded Community in general?
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Re: Re: Baidu is not a music search engine - it hosts music files
@Agonizing Fury,
Not sure what you mean by Branded Community. Well, to be blunt about it, it means that Baidu is actually hosting the files on its server farms to supply its mp3 search service - and it is hosted on its own volition for purposes of fraud. Does that make it as clear as possible?
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Sue the YellowPages because
it is a search site for Banks.
Everyone knows that is where the money is.
The next time a bank is robbed, sue YellowPages because the robbers _could_ have used the search to find out where to commit a crime.
Next,
Sue the Newspapers for reporting on weakness in security at the airport.
Sue the local news for reporting problems in police hiring.
They _could_ have provided information that lead to a crime.
Is that not what the RIAA/MIAA is doing, suing information/search/reporting entities that a criminal may have used to commit a crime?
Why not sue Dell/HP/Intel/AMD/Cisco? they make equipment that is used to download load possible mp3 violation. Where does it end?
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Re: Sue the YellowPages because
sue the guy who created the computer.. or Better the electricity.. wait wait.. sue GOD he created all this!
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Re: Re: Sue the YellowPages because
She! God damn it! God's a woman.
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BitTorrent
If Baidu can win a case on the basis that it only links to pirated material, then it looks like a BitTorrent Tracker could be set up there with similar legal immunity...
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free mp3 search engine
Try www.EverythingAmplified.com
It works much better to search for MP3's.
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tankyo
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hi
tankyo
http://cam.h22h.com
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