Protecting Copyright
Having finished her homework, Ma Li wants some music for relaxation （娱乐）. As usual, she starts her computer and goes to Baidu.com to download music files. But this time she is surprised when an announcement about protecting songs’ copyright bursts onto the screen. The age of free music and movie downloads may have come to an end as Web companies like Baidu are accused of pirating copyright. Lawsuits（诉讼） have been filed against four websites offering free downloads. In September 2005, a Beijing court ordered Baidu to pay recording company Shanghai Push compensation for their losses. Baidu was also told to block the links to the pirated music on the website. This caused a heated discussion on Interact file sharing.
“Baidu’s defeat in the lawsuit shows it is not right to get copyrighted songs without paying. Downloaders may face lawsuits or fines,” said an official.
Like many teens, Huang Ruoru, an 18-year-old girl from Puning in Guangdong Province, doesn’t think that getting music from websites is wrong. She always shares her favourite songs downloaded from Baidu with her friends. When told about the lawsuit, she began to feel a little guilty about obtaining others’ work without paying.
However, other teenagers have different ideas. Wang Yafei, a Senior 2 girl from Jinan, Shandong Province pointed out that file sharing is a good way to promote pop singers. “If I download a song and really like it, I will buy the CD,” she said. “So what the recording companies really should concentrate on is improving their music, rather than pursuing （追赶）file-sharers.”
1. Which of the following best describes the passage?
A. Music on the Internet is of better quality.
B. Downloading material can be illegal.
C. It’s good to get free music on the Internet.
D. Baidu is a popular web company.
2. The four web companies were put to court because _________.
A. they got copyrighted songs without paying
B. they downloaded copyrighted music for people
C. they make copyrighted files for free downloads
D. they offer free music on line
3. How do some of the teenagers feel while downloading free music after the lawsuit?
A. A bit guilty. B. A little sad. C. Extremely angry. D. Awfully sorry.
4. What’s the advantage of file sharing for recording companies?
A. Getting more money from web companies.
B. Enabling people to download favorite songs.
C. Helping to improve the music.
D. Making pop singers more popular.
5. It can be inferred from the text that _________.
A. Web companies are still ignoring the copyright laws.
B. Teenagers haven’t got money to buy CDs.
C. Teenagers are probably still downloading free music.
D. Teenagers prefer CDs with copyright to pirated music.
