In a bid to fight piracy China’s Baidu will shut down its online literature forum

China’s search engine Baidu will gradually close its online literature forum over concerns of piracy amid government’s move to launch crackdown on illegal copying of online texts, state media reported today.

Baidu has set up two channels to accept tip-offs from the public, saying it will remove pirated content within 12 hours from Baidu Tieba, the largest Chinese communication platform, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Baidu’s move came in response to Xinhua’s reports in late March accusing Baidu Tieba of being the biggest source of pirated literature online.

An official from the National Copyright Administration of China said it endorsed Baidu’s move, adding that the administration was taking the matter very seriously.

Having launched inter-departmental special campaigns against online piracy for 11 consecutive years, China this year will launch a campaign focusing on piracy of online literature, the administration added.