Yahoo! China is being sued by 11 music companies which are owned by the Chinese e-commerce giant, Alibaba because of its (Yahoo!) involvement in illegal downloading and playing copyrighted music.

"International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), companies, including EMI, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music and Universal Music, are suing Yahoo! China for about 5.5 million yuan in damages."

"Digital music contributes 20 to 30 percent of the total revenue for Warner Music, Universal Music, Sony BMG Music and EMI in China every year, much higher than their world average of 10 percent."

What I don't understand is considering Yahoo!'s stake in Alibaba, who is Alibaba suing when it goes after Yahoo! China?

If Alibaba wins, does Yahoo! lose or win?

Another interesting point to me is China's interest in the IPR of the music.

Baidu has already won a similar lawsuit against Yahoo! China.

As more and more companies go to court over who owns what and who gets revenue, maybe more the IPR of other companies will become  better guarded.

Do you think China is becoming more serious about respecting other IPR?

The guy selling pirated DVD's outside the American embassy doesn't think so.

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