Downloading songs from the Internet without paying for them has long been common practice in China. Hunting out free song files is obviously preferable to shelling out your hard earned cash in music stores.

But it's starting to get a lot harder, as the government implements a crackdown on copyright violation. The search giant Baidu has faced constant criticism for providing music and book downloads without permission of the rights holder. Now punishments are being slapped on Baidu, and several other websites, for offering the illegal services.

Click into Baidu MP3, choose the song, and the music is there on your PC in seconds...

But this popular service provided by China's top search engine, will no longer be available, after a series of official and civil complaints.

The Culture ministry announced Monday that it would hand down punishments to 14 websites, including Baidu, that have provided illegal music downloads. In all cases, copyrighted music was made available online for free - without the permission of the owner. It's not yet clear what form the punishments will take.

Baidu reacted to the move by announcing it will make swift changes. A spokesman said the company will remove links to any files identified by the ministry.

But the voices of criticism from within the music industry are growing louder. The Audio and Video Association has published two letters, branding Baidu an accomplice to piracy. Music industry insiders say Baidu's service takes a big bite out of their profits, with popular composers sometimes unable to make a living.

Liu Ping, China Music Copyright Soc., said, "Telecommunication companies and Internet companies have made huge profits off the back of music writers and others. Composers take a fraction of the profits they are owed. This can dampen their enthusiasm to continue creating good music. "

Baidu's various businesses have lately been treading on some shaky legal ground. Over the past few months, the company has faced accusations by a group of authors over its Library product. The writers say Baidu reproduced their books without permission.

Baidu has now apologized, and removed the files.

Robin Li, Chairman & CEO of Baidu said, "We would like to seek possible cooperation with the authors for a win-win result."

Baidu has now reached agreement with several copyright holders, to pay fees for downloading their work. It's also pledging to give a portion of its huge advertising revenue to composers who say they've lost money.

China's vast army of web users is also being urged to increase their copyright awareness. And first on the list of do's and don'ts is quitting free music and book downloading.

Liu Ping said, "Changes can't be made by one single company. It needs the combined efforts of all those in society, with the coordination of administrative and legal measures. And of course web users should say no to pirates, and support authorized sellers. "

Experts say the country is now considering amending its copyright laws, to make them more capable and flexible and to better regulate the increasing demand for intellectually copyrighted material on the Internet.