Baidu to shut down online forum to fight piracy

BEIJING -- Baidu said Monday that it will gradually close its online literature forum over concerns of piracy.

Baidu has set up two channels to accept tipoffs from the public, adding that it will remove pirated content within 12 hours from Baidu Tieba, the largest Chinese communication platform.

Baidu's move came in response to Xinhua's reports in late March. Xinhua accused 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 said.