Google Plans to Offer Free Downloads in China

[Coventina]

Source: New York Times

SHANGHAI — Trying to gain ground in China, Google, the search engine company, said Monday that it had begun to offer links to free music downloads — a service it does not offer anywhere else in the world.

Google executives said they were responding to the phenomenal popularity of free music downloads in China, one of the few markets where the company lags, by forming an alliance with the music industry, including Sony, Universal Music and Warner Music.

The search engine company hopes the demand for music downloads will raise Google’s profile in China, which has already overtaken the United States as the world’s biggest Internet market with nearly 300 million users, and also help the company gain market share against its chief rival here, Baidu, the nation’s dominant search engine.

(snip)

The deal, which was announced at a news conference in Beijing, is significant for Google and the global music industry because Chinese consumers are addicted to searching for music and downloading free music, often through illegal sites.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/31/technology/companies/31music.html?ref=technology

[anonymous171]

1. Is there any way I can trick them into thinking I'm accesssing it from China?

[bitchkitty]

5. Yes. Use a proxy. n/t

[anonymous171]

7. That simple eh? Worth a try at least.

Thanks for the info.

[MetaTrope]

2. Officially free music downloads in China; $100,000 federal fines in America

God, I love our freedom!

[msongs]

3. free music downloads are universally available in the US already nt

[MetaTrope]

4. From Sony, Universal and Warner?

Guess I missed that site...

[Jkid]

6. Only problem, where's the website?

n/t

[ConcernedCanuk]

8. CD's will be available in the near future

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:dunce:

[Deja Q]

9. Nice way to end piracy and stealing; giving it away for free.

:crazy: