International record companies have stepped up their attack on Baidu.com, with a new lawsuit accusing the Chinese internet search market leader of blatantly violating copyright by offering links to pirated music.

The suit by Universal Music, Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Warner Music is part of a renewed drive led by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, the music industry body, to force Chinese internet search providers to stop offering direct links to pirated tracks held on third-party websites.