Baidu put on US pirate-goods list

The US has put China’s top search engine Baidu on a list of “notorious markets” for counterfeit and pirated goods.

The US Trade Representative (USTR) accused Baidu of steering consumers to third-party websites that sell goods illegally.

Baidu is the most-visited website in China and among the top 10 in the world, USTR said.

Critics accuse China of not protecting intellectual property rights.

The USTR has not only pointed out online piracy in China, it also highlighted what it said were illegal sales through retail outlets and Chinese markets.

“Industry reports that personal computer malls throughout China such as Hailong Mall in Beijing and Yangpu Yigai digital square in Shanghai, sell computers with illegal operating software and other unlawfully pre-installed software,” it said.