Web site sued over film piracy
BEIJING (AP) - February 15, 2008 The Motion Picture Association accused Xunlei Networking
Technology Co. of allowing users of its file-sharing service to
download hundreds of movies from other Web sites despite repeated
warnings. The group said it is seeking 7 million yuan, or about $1
million.
Industry groups say explosive growth in Internet use in China is
fueling unlicensed copying. Pirate Web sites offer free music,
movies, software or games to attract users and make money from
advertising or online commerce.
Popular Chinese Web sites also have been sued over accusations
that they link to sites that carry pirated music.
MPA accused Xunlei of allowing users of its peer-to-peer, or
P2P, service to download copies of movies including "Spider-Man
3," "War of the Worlds" and "Miami Vice." It accused Xunlei of
continuing to allow violations after the group's lawyers sent 78
warnings.
"These actions demonstrate that copyright holders can and will
vigorously defend their property by any legal means," Frank
Rittman, the MPA's Asia-Pacific vice president, said in a
statement.
"P2P piracy is a huge problem in China, which if left
unattended will threaten the continued development of legitimate
online services supported by copyright owners," Rittman said.
A woman who answered the phone at Xunlei's headquarters in the
southern city of Shenzhen and refused to give her name said no one
was available to comment.
The MPA also has filed a series of lawsuits against Chinese
vendors of illegally copied DVDs. The group says it has been
awarded 2 million yuan ($280,000) since 2006.
Entertainment and games are among the most valuable attractions
for Web sites in China, which has 210 million people online, the
second-largest population of Internet users after the United
States.
In November, the MPA sued a Chinese Web site, Jeboo.com, that it
accused of providing pirated copies of 13 recent Hollywood films to
a Shanghai Internet cafe.
A music industry group, the International Federation of
Phonographic Industries, won a suit in December against Yahoo
Inc.'s China arm, which it sued over links to outside sites with
pirated music. The group has filed a similar suit against Chinese
search engine Baidu.com Inc.
China is a leading source of unlicensed copies of goods ranging
from movies and music to sporting goods and medications.
Beijing has imposed tougher penalties and launched repeated
crackdowns, but companies say violations, driven by a booming
Chinese economy, are expanding faster than enforcement.
The Motion Picture Association is the international arm of the
Los Angeles-based Motion Picture Association of America. Its
members are Walt Disney Co.'s Buena Vista Pictures Distribution,
Paramount Pictures Corp., Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.,
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp., Universal City Studios LLLP and
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
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On the 'Net:
Xunlei Networking Technology Co. (in Chinese): www.xunlei.com
Motion Picture Association: www.mpaa.org
