Nov 29 (Reuters) - Australia's Domain Holdings

said on Friday it will defend copyright infringement claims made

by its larger rival, Rupert Murdoch's REA Group ( RPGRF ).

The claims of infringement primarily relate to images for

181 property listings, the copyright of which REA only recently

acquired from the relevant photographers, Domain Holdings said

in an email to Reuters, without specifying details about

previous ownership.

REA Group ( RPGRF ) is yet to reply to a Reuters request for comment.

The News Corp ( NWSA ) controlled-REA Group ( RPGRF ), which recently ended its

pursuit of British firm Rightmove ( RTMVF ), has more than doubled

its market capitalisation in the last five years or so while

Domain's market value has dropped around 17% in the same period.

"Of greater concern is REA's efforts to acquire controlling

ownership of valuable data from the agents and vendors who paid

for this photography," Domain said.

"This transfer of ownership should be deeply concerning to

the industry, as yet another example of a dominant market

participant taking actions that reinforce its position."

Nine Entertainment ( NNMTF ), which publishes local

newspapers such as the Australian Financial Review's weekend

version, owns around 60% of Domain Holdings.

($1 = 1.5340 Australian dollars)