Three global record companies have launched legal proceedings against China’s top Internet search engine, Baidu.com Inc, accusing it of violating copyright by giving access to music files, an international music trade body said.
Universal Music Ltd, Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Hong Kong) Ltd and Warner Music Hong Kong Ltd have asked a court to order Baidu (BIDU.O: Quote,Profile, Research) to remove all links on its music delivery service to copyright-infringing tracks they own the rights to, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry said in a statement.
The claims have been filed with a court in Beijing, said IFPI, which is backed by global music industry heavyweights.
Separate action is also being taken by Universal Music Ltd, Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Hong Kong) Ltd, Warner Music Hong Kong Ltd, as well as Gold Label Entertainment Ltd against Chinese media firm Sohu.com Inc (SOHU.O: Quote, Profile,Research) and its search engine, Sogou, the statement added.
In January 2007 Baidu and EMI Music, the fourth major global record company, launched an advertising-supported online music service in China.
Baidu’s shares fell 6.9 percent to close at $253.49 and Sohu’s shares fell 5.43 percent to $46.29 on the Nasdaq on Tuesday.
Yahoo China also faces proceedings after refusing to comply with a ruling in December by the Beijing Higher People’s Court, which confirmed the company violated Chinese law by committing mass copyright infringement, IFPI added.
Feist continues to win recognition from her peers, collecting four Grammy nominations — and now, winning the Shortlist Music Prize for her album “The Reminder.” The Shortlist, in its seventh year, pays tribute to artists who haven’t hit the mainstream yet. Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol and Ronnie Vannucci of the Killers were among this year’s panel of judges. Feist’s “The Reminder” is “the album of the year for 2007 or any year I can think of: It’s modern and classic all at once,” Lightbody said in a statement released Monday. “There are so many kinds of beauty in this record.” Leslie Feist, who uses only her last name professionally, hails from Canada. She grew up in Calgary and spent her teenage years as lead singer for a hardcore punk band. Her Grammy nominations include best new artist and best pop vocal album. The Grammys will be presented Sunday in Los Angeles. Finalists for the 2007 Shortlist Music Prize also included Arcade Fire, Burial, Justice, LCD Soundsystem, M.I.A., Spoon, Stars, Wilco and Working for a Nuclear Free City. Feist, 31, is the second woman to snag the prize, following Cat Power’s win last year. Past winners also include Damien Rice, N.E.R.D., TV on the Radio and Sufjan Stevens. On the Net:
Yahoo’s change in music offerings comes as Microsoft tries to acquire the company for $44.6 billion. By K.C. Jones InformationWeek
Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO)’s on-demand music service will be managed by Rhapsody, the company said this week.
Yahoo Music general manager Ian C. Rogers announced the Yahoo Music Unlimited partnership through his blog on Monday. Rogers said the music service took resources away from other objectives. That includes music.yahoo.com, the company’s music video site, and Launchcast Radio, which allows users to create their own “stations.” Rogers characterized the decision as a “major strategic shift” and said that Yahoo Music draws 25 million users a month, but the unlimited service accounts for a small portion. “It wasn’t an easy decision,” he said. “We’re huge fans of Yahoo Music Unlimited and those customers include many of our most loyal and valuable.” Yahoo Music Unlimited subscribers will be able to migrate easily to Rhapsody, and sometime this year music.yahoo.com will integrate with Rhapsody, allowing customers to use music.yahoo.com, as well as Rhapsody, with no increase in price. The service will work with PCs, Macs, “We sincerely apologize for any hassle and thank you for joining us in the Yahoo Music Unlimited run,” he said. “It was a wild ride for all of us.” Rogers said the decision does not mean that Yahoo will decrease music investments. He said the company acquired FoxyTunes, a media toolbar for Firefox and Internet The change in music offerings comes as Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) attempts to acquire Yahoo for $44.6 billion. Less than a week ago, Yahoo announced an earnings loss of 23% and plans to cut 1,000 jobs.
The Grateful Dead, the San Francisco cult rock band that has played at political events since the 1960s, will reunite on Monday for the first time in four years to rally support for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, a spokesman said on Friday.
Band leader Jerry Garcia died in 1995. Surviving members have played together occasionally since then, most recently in 2004. On Monday, original members Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir will play at a San Francisco theater a day before California’s primary.
“They have agreed to reunite for this one-time-only event in order to lend support to Senator Obama leading into the crucial ‘Super-Tuesday’ series of primaries held on Tuesday, February 5th,” the band said in a statement.
The band gained fame with its free-form psychedelic music when the counterculture movement flourished in San Francisco in the 1960s, and they attracted many loyal fans who came to be known as “Deadheads.”
Throughout the course of Britney Spears’ months-long emotional tailspin, one universal question has lingered with each spectacular turn: Why doesn’t her family take drastic measures to stop this?
On Friday, they did.
Spears’ father, James Spears, was put in charge of the troubled pop star’s welfare during a surprise court appearance by him and mother Lynne Spears, a day after their daughter was whisked to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.
Just as Spears’ immediate family was taking charge of her life, Sam Lutfi, the man seen escorting her about town and sometimes speaking on her behalf, was removed from the picture with a restraining order. A message left on Lutfi’s cellphone seeking comment was not immediately returned.
James Spears’ eyes grew teary when he was named conservator of his daughter. He and an attorney, Andrew Wallet, were named conservators of the estate. The parents sat with attorney Blair Berk throughout the hearing, smiling and embracing after the announcement.
