Google offered an apology to search rival Sohu who complained its data was used by Google in a new Internet tool. This recent controversy highlights the intense competition in China’s booming online market where Internet companies invest heavily on search, entertainment and other features. Sohu complained that the new tool

11 music industry giants are suing Yahoo! China for alleged copyright infringement. The lawsuit was filed by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) on behalf of the their members. Among the 11 are Warner Music, Sony BMG, EMI Group PLC and Universal Music Group. According to the suit,

Baidu.com, China’s leading search engine, reported a fivefold increase in fourth quarter net income as online marketing revenue more than doubled. China’s Internet market is the second largest after the United States, with more than 123 million people online. Baidu.com’s revenue rose to 271.3 million yuan ($34.8 million) in the

McAfee developed a strong base in China by partnering with China Unicom and Baidu. McAfee offers virus protection, internet security software, personal computer updates, hacker protection and anti-virus downloads. China Unicom (China United Telecommunications Corporation) which is the second largest mobile phone operation in China is a state-owned telecommunication company.

According to the Internet Guide 2007, a recently released report from the Internet Society of China, Internet users in China spent RMB 276.76 billion ($35.5 billion) on Internet services in 2006. This represents an increase of nearly 50 percent over the previous year. Spending was mainly on services like Internet

Google and China Mobile announced a joint venture in setting up an online search technology for China Mobile, a carrier with roughly 300 million subscribers. The new services are expected to be launched early this year. The partnership will include services on the Monternet WAP portal for news, ringtones, videos

According to Analysys International, an Internet based provider of business information, the China search engine market will see a compound annual growth of more than 30% from 2006 to 2010 based on its recently released report “China Search Engine Market Forecast 2006 — 2010”. Revenue for China’s search engine providers

Yahoo! China sued Qihoo back in late September of this year for unfair competition. The lawsuit claimed that Qihoo software, known as “360safe”, prompts users to de-install the Yahoo! Toolbar. The prompt made users believe that the toolbar was “malware”, and was difficult or almost impossible to remove. “Their activities

US based online auction company EBay Inc. is exiting the China market. eBay said its China-based subsidiary, eBay EachNet, and TOM Online will enter into a joint venture. where eBay will take 49 percent stake and Tom Online Inc., an Internet company based in Beijing will hold a 51% stake.

Chinese search site Baidu.com has signed a deal with Microsoft to sell advertising for MSN in China. Baidu’s paid search ads will appear on the Chinese versions of MSN, Live Search and other Micrsoft web properties. Baidu who recently announced it will enter the Japanese market is the fourth most