January 23, 2008

Baidu Sets Out to Conquer Japan

China’s most popular search engine Baidu has finally launched its long anticipated Japanese portal. Baidu Chairman and CEO, Robin Li expressed excitement upon entering the Japanese search market.

“With Baidu’s strengths in developing user-focused Chinese language search and the qualified team we have on the ground in Japan, and given the success we have already encountered after nearly one year of testing our beta site, we are confident that we can provide a high quality Japanese language search.”

Baidu, a monolithic presence, has about double Google’s search share in China and dominates the landscape. In China there is much less focus on organic search results, requiring advertisers to pay and making for a strong search profit model for the search engine.

The Japanese portal will offer blended (Universal) search including web search, image search, video search and blog search services.

This is Baidu’s first venture outside of China, which portends a commitment growing a more global footprint.

Posted by aimclear at 7:07 AM | Permalink

November 22, 2006

Baidu Wins Copyright Case Against Music Companies

Melanie Colburn writes that Music Labels Lose Copyright Suit Against Baidu, which started back when Five Music Companies Sue Baidu in September of 2005. Baidu was previously ordered to stop these music downloads but it appears the ruling was overturned because all Baidu is providing are links to 3rd party sites that facilitate the music downloads, whereas Baidu does not participate in the downloads themselves. More details at the BBC News.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:37 AM | Permalink

September 29, 2006

Yahoo China Sues Hongyi's Qihoo For Unfair Competition

Reuters reports that Yahoo China is suing Qihoo, claiming that 360safe spyware software is prompting users to uninstall the Yahoo Toolbar. The spyware software claims that Yahoo's Toolbar is "malware" and is a risk to their computers. Joseph Tsai, Alibaba's chief financial officer, said that this is unfair competition, alluding to a former Yahoo employee named Zhou Hongyi who now heads up Qihoo. It is important to note that Zhou Hongyi sued Yahoo last month for defamation.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:30 AM | Permalink

September 20, 2006

Microsoft To Enter Chinese Market With China Telecom

People's Daily Online reports in Microsoft opens search market with China Teleco that Microsoft is starting push their way into the Chinese search market through a new deal with China Telecom. China Telecom China's is said to be China's largest "network operator and internet provider, providing 25 million customers with broadband service. It has more than 80 million internet users and over 400 city portal webs." The deal, in some way, will give the 25 million customers Live Search features (not sure how exactly). As we noted earlier, Baidu is rocking in China, Google is doing OK and Yahoo is in the race.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 8:54 AM | Permalink

September 18, 2006

Baidu Holds 62% Share In China

LinuxWorld reports that Baidu, the Chinese search engine, has 62.1 percent share based on a China Internet Network Information Centre (CNNIC) report. That is up 10 points from 52 percent in 2005. In terms of brand recognition in China, 86.5 percent identifying with the name "Baidu," where only 64 percent identifying with the name "Google" in China. The study does state that 76.3 percent use more than one search engine regularly. The article everyone is buzzing about is a NY Times article named The Rise of Baidu (That’s Chinese for Google), it really does make for a good read.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 8:53 AM | Permalink

June 29, 2006

Yahoo Second In Market Share In China

TMCnet.com reports that Google is in third place in China, with 13.2% share. Yahoo is in second place with 21.1% market share and Baidu leads with 43.9%. TMCnet sources this information from the Beijing Modern Business Daily on page 1 from the Tuesday, June 27, 2006 edition.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:28 AM | Permalink

Yahoo Second In Market Share In China

TMCnet.com reports that Google is in third place in China, with 13.2% share. Yahoo is in second place with 21.1% market share and Baidu leads with 43.9%. TMCnet sources this information from the Beijing Modern Business Daily on page 1 from the Tuesday, June 27, 2006 edition.

Posted by Kevin Heisler at 9:28 AM | Permalink

Yahoo Second In Market Share In China

TMCnet.com reports that Google is in third place in China, with 13.2% share. Yahoo is in second place with 21.1% market share and Baidu leads with 43.9%. TMCnet sources this information from the Beijing Modern Business Daily on page 1 from the Tuesday, June 27, 2006 edition.

Posted by Kevin Heisler at 9:28 AM | Permalink

Yahoo Second In Market Share In China

TMCnet.com reports that Google is in third place in China, with 13.2% share. Yahoo is in second place with 21.1% market share and Baidu leads with 43.9%. TMCnet sources this information from the Beijing Modern Business Daily on page 1 from the Tuesday, June 27, 2006 edition.

Posted by Kevin Heisler at 9:28 AM | Permalink

June 21, 2006

Chinese Authorities Temporarily Shut Down Two Large Chinese Portals

PaidContent reports that two of the largest Chinese portals have been temporarily shut down by the Chinese authorities for not passing a "an on-the-spot censorship test." The chief editors of Sina.com and Sohu.com "were summoned to the State Council Information Office," that morning.

While on the topic of Chinese censorship, take a look at the list Philipp compiled of Censored Domains in Google.cn.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:07 AM | Permalink

Chinese Authorities Temporarily Shut Down Two Large Chinese Portals

PaidContent reports that two of the largest Chinese portals have been temporarily shut down by the Chinese authorities for not passing a "an on-the-spot censorship test." The chief editors of Sina.com and Sohu.com "were summoned to the State Council Information Office," that morning.

While on the topic of Chinese censorship, take a look at the list Philipp compiled of Censored Domains in Google.cn.

Posted by Kevin Heisler at 9:07 AM | Permalink

Chinese Authorities Temporarily Shut Down Two Large Chinese Portals

PaidContent reports that two of the largest Chinese portals have been temporarily shut down by the Chinese authorities for not passing a "an on-the-spot censorship test." The chief editors of Sina.com and Sohu.com "were summoned to the State Council Information Office," that morning.

While on the topic of Chinese censorship, take a look at the list Philipp compiled of Censored Domains in Google.cn.

Posted by Kevin Heisler at 9:07 AM | Permalink

Chinese Authorities Temporarily Shut Down Two Large Chinese Portals

PaidContent reports that two of the largest Chinese portals have been temporarily shut down by the Chinese authorities for not passing a "an on-the-spot censorship test." The chief editors of Sina.com and Sohu.com "were summoned to the State Council Information Office," that morning.

While on the topic of Chinese censorship, take a look at the list Philipp compiled of Censored Domains in Google.cn.

Posted by Kevin Heisler at 9:07 AM | Permalink

June 16, 2006

Yahoo China Highest Censorship Enforcing

Wired News reports that Yahoo China is the strictest at censoring out politically sensitive results when compared to Google China and MSN China. Reporters Without Borders, an advocacy group, conducted tests by querying ten "politically-sensitive keywords" including press freedom or human rights." Editors & Publisher adds the group found Yahoo's censorship was shocking, for example, as when a keyword search on "subversive" brought back 97% pro-Beijing results. More from Reporters Without Borders is here, explaining how six keywords were tested and the first ten results analyzed.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:17 AM | Permalink

Yahoo China Highest Censorship Enforcing

Wired News reports that Yahoo China is the strictest at censoring out politically sensitive results when compared to Google China and MSN China. Reporters Without Borders, an advocacy group, conducted tests by querying ten "politically-sensitive keywords" including press freedom or human rights." Editors & Publisher adds the group found Yahoo's censorship was shocking, for example, as when a keyword search on "subversive" brought back 97% pro-Beijing results. More from Reporters Without Borders is here, explaining how six keywords were tested and the first ten results analyzed.

Posted by Kevin Heisler at 9:17 AM | Permalink

Yahoo China Highest Censorship Enforcing

Wired News reports that Yahoo China is the strictest at censoring out politically sensitive results when compared to Google China and MSN China. Reporters Without Borders, an advocacy group, conducted tests by querying ten "politically-sensitive keywords" including press freedom or human rights." Editors & Publisher adds the group found Yahoo's censorship was shocking, for example, as when a keyword search on "subversive" brought back 97% pro-Beijing results. More from Reporters Without Borders is here, explaining how six keywords were tested and the first ten results analyzed.

Posted by Kevin Heisler at 9:17 AM | Permalink

Yahoo China Highest Censorship Enforcing

Wired News reports that Yahoo China is the strictest at censoring out politically sensitive results when compared to Google China and MSN China. Reporters Without Borders, an advocacy group, conducted tests by querying ten "politically-sensitive keywords" including press freedom or human rights." Editors & Publisher adds the group found Yahoo's censorship was shocking, for example, as when a keyword search on "subversive" brought back 97% pro-Beijing results. More from Reporters Without Borders is here, explaining how six keywords were tested and the first ten results analyzed.

Posted by Kevin Heisler at 9:17 AM | Permalink

June 7, 2006

Brin Suggests Google Might Reverse Chinese Censorship In The Short Term; Meanwhile, China Ramps Up Google.com Blocks

"Brin says Google compromised principles" from the Associated Press covers Google cofounder Sergey Brin telling reporters yesterday that it's possible Google might reverse its policy of censoring on behalf of the Chinese government. That's the real news from his talk -- a possible reversal, perhaps soon -- not the admission of compromise which Google's made before. The news comes on the heels of China apparently ramping up blocks on the uncensored Google.com site.

Back in January, Brin already said the move wasn't "to the 100 percent that we ideally would like." That same month, Google CEO Eric Schmidt said that Google had created an "evil scale" to determine just how much a compromise of the company's "Don't Be Evil" mantra the China move would be. In February, Google communications chief Elliot Schrage explained to a US Congressional committee how in 2002, Google refused to compromise its principles:

We faced a choice at that point: hold fast to our commitment to free speech (and risk a long-term cut-off from our Chinese users), or compromise our principles by entering the Chinese market directly and subjecting ourselves to Chinese laws and regulations. We stood by our principles, which turned out to be a good choice, as access to Google.com was largely restored within about two weeks.

But then he also explained that compromise in 2006 was deemed necessary:

Our hope is that our mix of measures, though far from our ideal, would accomplish more for Chinese citizens access to information than the alternative. We dont pretend that this is the single right answer to the dilemma faced by information companies in China, but rather a reasonable approach that seems likely to bring our users greater access to more information than any other search engine in China. And by serving our users better, we hope it will be good for our business, too, over the long run.

So fast forward to yesterday and Brin's statement:

"We felt that perhaps we could compromise our principles but provide ultimately more information for the Chinese and be a more effective service and perhaps make more of a difference," Brin said.

Frankly, it's really nothing they haven't said before, albeit more directly to have "compromise" and "principles" coming up so directly and so close together. Far more interesting was this statement:

"Perhaps now the principled approach makes more sense," Brin said.

Change directions? That itself isn't necessarily news. Google's already said before they might reverse course. Going back to Schrage's statement from February:

Looking ahead, we will carefully monitor conditions in China, including new laws and other restrictions on our services. If we determine that we are unable to achieve the objectives Ive outlined above, we will not hesitate to reconsider our approach to China.

That statement sounds pretty long-term -- watch and see over time. Brin's statement sounds more immediate, as if suddenly things have changed that might make Google rethink its approach in the near term. What could those things be?

For one, the China issue isn't going away. Google continues to take flak for it, both outside China by those opposed to the move and even those inside China by those upset with the disclosure route they've followed.

More recently, just this week, journalists in the UK started organizing to boycott Yahoo over its actions in China. Google, which has done far less egregious things than Yahoo is accused of, could still come under fire for a similar move.

Also this week, reports have started coming in that Google.com is being more heavily blocked from China. China 'blocks' main Google site from the BBC (and see also Reuters) has more on this.

Google.com has never worked perfectly within China. That, after all, is the reason why Google caved to create an approved Chinese edition. But Google.com has remained held out by the company as a way for those in China to still get an uncensored look at search results (at least uncensored according to Chinese laws; US laws still get a far more limited amount of material removed).

If Google.com is now being more aggressively blocked -- not just occasionally for particular sensitive queries but in a heavy-handed fashion -- Google loses another relief valve for those upset with its actions.

It's also important to note that one of the ways Google decides what to censor is to look at the differences between Google.com and Google China from within China, as the New York Times explained in an excellent story back in April. If Google.com is being blocked more heavily, then it's harder for Google to maintain its censored version.

Then again, perhaps a reversal isn't really likely to happen soon. Later in his talk with reporters, Brin said:

"It's perfectly reasonable to do something different, to say, 'Look, we're going to stand by the principle against censorship and we won't actually operate there.' That's an alternate path," Brin said. "It's not where we chose to go right now, but I can sort of see how people came to different conclusions about doing the right thing."

The "not where we chose to go right now" sort of defused the idea that dropping censorship might be a short term thing.

It's also interesting that only two months ago, Google CEO Eric Schmidt talked about the Chinese action as "absolutely the right move." I didn't agree with that, and now we've got one of the cofounders clarifying it wasn't absolutely the right choice but rather simply one of at least two directions Google decided to go.

If you're interested in more about these issues and past developments, be sure to check out the Legal: Censorship category we maintain for Search Engine Watch members.

Want to comment or discuss? Visit our Search Engine Watch Forums thread, Brin says Google compromised principles.

Postscript: Google.cn: more 'Google Speak' at ZDNet from Donna Bogatin notes that only last week, Google CEO Eric Schmidt said he doesn't "see a need to change what we have done." So a split among the Google leadership? Or a recent change in China making them all rethink things? Local Search Goes to China

The local search boom is truly global in scope.

Baidu.com, the large web search engine from .CN that Google is a minority investor in has announced a partnership deal with the China Telecom Yellow Pages.

Baidu spokesperson Mr. Sheng Bi says, "Shanghai's tele-information center receives over 300,000 phone calls a day, which evidences the enormous need for local search. This partnership will allow Baidu to integrate China Telecom Yellow Page's national business listings into Baidu's local search results, making local search on Baidu more practical and reliable."

Hmm, you've got to think that Google Local China and Yahoo Local China are coming soon. Mobile versions too!

More in this news release.

Posted by Kevin Heisler at 1:34 PM | Permalink | TrackBack

Local Search Goes to China

The local search boom is truly global in scope.

Baidu.com, the large web search engine from .CN that Google is a minority investor in has announced a partnership deal with the China Telecom Yellow Pages.

Baidu spokesperson Mr. Sheng Bi says, "Shanghai's tele-information center receives over 300,000 phone calls a day, which evidences the enormous need for local search. This partnership will allow Baidu to integrate China Telecom Yellow Page's national business listings into Baidu's local search results, making local search on Baidu more practical and reliable."

Hmm, you've got to think that Google Local China and Yahoo Local China are coming soon. Mobile versions too!

More in this news release.

Posted by Kevin Heisler at 1:34 PM | Permalink | TrackBack

Local Search Goes to China

The local search boom is truly global in scope.

Baidu.com, the large web search engine from .CN that Google is a minority investor in has announced a partnership deal with the China Telecom Yellow Pages.

Baidu spokesperson Mr. Sheng Bi says, "Shanghai's tele-information center receives over 300,000 phone calls a day, which evidences the enormous need for local search. This partnership will allow Baidu to integrate China Telecom Yellow Page's national business listings into Baidu's local search results, making local search on Baidu more practical and reliable."

Hmm, you've got to think that Google Local China and Yahoo Local China are coming soon. Mobile versions too!

More in this news release.

Posted by Kevin Heisler at 1:34 PM | Permalink | TrackBack

March 7, 2005

A Busy Time for China's Web Search Companies

Several announcements from the major web search providers in China over the past couple of weeks. The Asia Pulse article: Search Engine Market To Consolidate In China, has an overview.

Posted by Gary Price at 9:35 AM | Permalink | TrackBack

A Busy Time for China's Web Search Companies

Several announcements from the major web search providers in China over the past couple of weeks. The Asia Pulse article: Search Engine Market To Consolidate In China, has an overview.

Posted by Kevin Heisler at 9:35 AM | Permalink | TrackBack

A Busy Time for China's Web Search Companies

Several announcements from the major web search providers in China over the past couple of weeks. The Asia Pulse article: Search Engine Market To Consolidate In China, has an overview.

Posted by Kevin Heisler at 9:35 AM | Permalink | TrackBack

A Busy Time for China's Web Search Companies

Several announcements from the major web search providers in China over the past couple of weeks. The Asia Pulse article: Search Engine Market To Consolidate In China, has an overview.

Posted by Kevin Heisler at 9:35 AM | Permalink | TrackBack