Sony, Warner Music Group and Vivendi sued Baidu.com Inc, seeking record damages on allegations that the Chinese Internet Search site infringed copyright by offering links to pirated music.

The lawsuit was filed by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry in February and accepted by the Beijing Intermediate People's Court last week.

Baidu currently controls about 60 percent of the Chinese search market and creates the largest market for legal music in China.

Reports from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry showed that 99 percent of online music in China is pirated.

Warner Music's Asia president said that winning the case against Baidu will be a big achievement towards creating a legal digital music market in China.

The suit alleges that Baidu's Internet search services allow users to find links to pirated music files on non-affiliated Web sites.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) estimated the compensation in cases to be $71,000 damages per track and the $9 million being sought from Baidu is based on copyright violations for 127 songs.

Baidu had 60 percent share of the Chinese search market in the fourth quarter, more than twice the 26 percent share held by its closest rival, Google.

Vivendi's Universal Music Group is world's largest recorded-music company followed Sony BMG Music Entertainment while Warner Music and EMI Group Ltd rank third and fourth respectively.

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