Encroaching on Baidu’s territory, Google China this month launched its free music search-and-download service. The advertising-supported feature is a partnership between Google China and Top100.cn, the country’s largest online music store.
While Baidu has come under fire from the music industry for linking to third-party illegal downloads, all search results from the new Google portal will lead to a path to legal (but free!) downloads from Top100.cn.
Reuters quotes Google China President Kai-fu Lee as saying that, “the internet industry should by no means stand in the opposite camp against the music industry.” We like his thinking, and hope that Top100’s music catalogue will be able to compete with Baidu’s, which is unfettered by questions of legality.