« Internet usage in China hits record high | Main | Feds: Details of ISP snooping haven't been decided »

China's Baidu receives license to provide news

From News.com:

Chinese Internet search leader Baidu won approval to become an online news portal, government and industry sources said on Tuesday, heating up a rivalry in the world's second-largest Web market.

China's State Council Information Office (SCIO), granted Baidu an Internet news content service license last week, a government source said, allowing Baidu.com--often referred to as "China's Google"--to do its own reporting rather than simply show news search results at present.

This will give Baidu a clear edge in terms of content over competitors who lack the permit, industry analysts said.