China's major websites pledge to boycott 4 categories of Internet unpleasantness

China's eight leading online media officially sanctioned to publish news signed the "Chinese Pact on the Self-discipline on Visual-Audio Programs and Services of the Internet" Friday, urging all domestic websites to spread positive, healthy programs and boycott corrupt, outdated ones.

It urges all the signers to abide by the country's laws, regulations and policies on the development and management of the Internet culture and boycott programs, including films, teleplays and cartoons that advocate elements in the catch-all categories of violence, pornography, gambling and terror.

It also calls for respecting and protecting the legal rights and interests of the copyright holders and service providers of visual-audio programs. An information-sharing and mutual assistance mechanism should be set up for visual-audio programs online, it says.

The pact is open to all domestic service providers of on-line visual-audio programs as all of them can apply for its entry, if they accept the conditions set by the pact.

The eight signers are the official websites of Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily, the State Council Press Office, China Radio International, China Central Television, China Youth Daily, China Economic Daily, and the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television.

In recent years, the Authorities have taken a series of measure to deal with pornographic and illegal activities on line, and many domestic websites have been closed down for involvement in illegal publications or services.

Yahoo looks to launch free MP3 download service

Yahoo Inc., is continuing discussions with major record labels over offering unprotected MP3s either for sale or for free as part of an ad-supported service, and hopes to launch the service this year, two record company executives familiar with the talks said Wednesday.

The talks, held as recently as last month, were preliminary because Yahoo is still working out the details, said the executives, who requested anonymity because of the discussions were confidential.

Universal Music Group, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group Corp., and EMI Group PLC have in recent months begun licensing their music for sale as MP3 files online through retailers like Amazon.com.

Unlike music files that come with copy protections embedded, MP3 files are compatible with most portable music devices, including Apple Inc.'s market-leading iPod media players, Microsoft Corp.'s Zune and mobile phones that play music.

Carrie Davis, a spokeswoman for Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Yahoo, said the company has often said it wants to offer music without copy protections and the subject has been part of its ongoing talks with record labels.

But Davis denied that discussions with record labels on the matter have stepped up in recent weeks or that anything is imminent.

Representatives for the labels declined to comment.