A subsidiary of China’s broadcasting regulator is suing Apple Inc. over a propaganda film more than 20 years old. It is the latest legal dispute for the tech giant in China in recent weeks.
According to a Beijing court, the case was presented by a production center alleging that Apple broke its exclusive online rights with the broadcasting of a propaganda film that depicts Chinese fighting against Japanese soldiers in northern China in the early 1930s.
The propaganda film was produced in the 1990’s and is called “Xuebo dixiao,” a free translation into English could be “Bloody Fight with the Fierce Enemy.” The film was produced in 1994 where Chinese soldiers battled against Japanese in 1930.
China’s broadcasting regulator alleges that considering the content of the propagate movie, which involves the whole nation, it is not possible for Apple to be the only broadcaster of it. The propaganda film is available on Youku HD, a streaming app available on Apple’s App store.
As per a Thursday’s online statement, the Beijing Haidian District People’s Court is also suing the developer and operator of the Youku HD app due to the “huge economic losses” the app has caused with the broadcasting of the propaganda film. The Youku HD app is sold by Youku.com, which is China’s best-known movie and TV program broadcaster sites.
The case was brought into court by Movie Satellite Channel Program Production Center (the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television).
China’s broadcasting regulator lawsuit is seeking about $10,500 for compensation. On one hand, $7,500 for “reasonable expenditure” and $3,000 as an attempt to stop Apple’s infringement of its rights in the country.
Apple Inc has recently faced legal setbacks in China
The current lawsuit Apple is facing is just the last of many legal setbacks the company has been gone through during last months.
China is Apple’s second-biggest global market, and such legal procedures have represented obstacles for the company to keep the pace on business matters in the country.
It was in April when the company was forced to suspended its iBooks and iTunes Movies services allegedly due to an order issued by Chinese regulators.
In May, a Beijing intellectual property tribunal in the country ordered Apple to stop sells off its iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus due to similarities of a phone model made by a small Chinese brand. Apple decided to appeal court’s ruling, and until a final decision is pronounced, the tech giant will continue selling iPhone’s models in question.
Another legal setback was registered in May involving Apple. A Beijing court ruled that the Chinese company Xintong Tiandi Technology could use the iPhone trademark on its leather goods, including bags, wallets, and others.
Source: Komo News