Beijing – A Chinese court has cleared Internet search firm Baidu.com of copyright charges in connection with providing links to sites that offer unauthorized free MP3s for download, Reuters reported.

"I am amazed by this inexplicable judgment that is totally out of step with Chinese law," said John Kennedy, chairman of the record label trade group the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).

The IFPI, which brought the charges against Baidu.com, said it plans an appeal and is confident the ruling from the No. 1 Intermediate Court of Beijing will be overturned.

A similar suit filed in 2000 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) against the U.S.-based website MP3Board.com, which provided links to free MP3 files, was settled before it went to trial.

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/yc3mw2 (Reuters)
http://www.ifpi.org
http://www.baidu.com