Introduction: The TikTok Refugee Movement and the Emergence of a New Digital Opportunity Recent developments surrounding TikTok in the United States have sparked an unexpected and intriguing shift in digital user demographics. In January 2025, the potential ban of TikTok’s service in the U.S. led to a significant migration of American users seeking alternative platforms. […]

Last week just before the Christmas holidays a Norwegian SME client has discovered counterfeit replicas of their products being sold on Chinese websites. Given that the client is seeking a prompt, effective, and cost-efficient solution rather than incurring high legal fees, how can we best address and resolve this e-commerce infringement issue? I. Protective Stronghold […]

Case Background The Hangzhou Internet Court recently adjudicated a pivotal copyright dispute concerning an AI platform enabling users to train and distribute LoRA models derived from protected Ultraman imagery. This ruling establishes critical boundaries for generative AI service providers’ legal responsibilities when facilitating user-generated content that implicates third-party intellectual property. Technical Functionality & Alleged Infringement […]

Following a four-year legal dispute, the Beijing IP Court ruled recently that Loongson Technology’s 3A5000 processor does not infringe upon MIPS Technologies’ chip architecture intellectual property rights. Background Information On June 2, 2021, Shanghai Cipunited Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd (“Cipunited”), affiliated with MIPS China, released a statement on its official website addressing claims circulating on […]

This article, originally published in Chinese in Issue 10 of China Judgments in 2025, is authored by He Zhuolan, who holds the position of Assistant Judge at the Judicial Administration Office of the Guangzhou Internet Court. Emotional artificial intelligence (referred to as “emotional AI”) encompasses AI applications that facilitate emotional interactions with users and offer psychological […]

The rapid advancements in intelligent robotics and live streaming have led to the emergence of numerous legal challenges, such as defining the legal status of virtual digital personas, determining if using someone else’s virtual persona for live streaming is an infringement, and whether mimicking another’s live streaming room design amounts to unfair competition. The Hangzhou Court addressed these issues in the Erbai Robot case, clarifying […]

The Chinese animated film “Nezha 2” is expected to break box office records, surpassing $10 billion. This surge in related intellectual property (IP) merchandise highlights the strength of high-quality IP derivatives in China. Adaptations of various creative works—such as novels, films, TV shows, animations, and games—are crucial for the entertainment industry. Today, IP is an […]

This case marks a significant milestone as the first national ruling aimed at safeguarding the copyright of AI-generated “text-to-image” works. （2023）京0491民初11279号民事判决书 In its ruling, the Chinese court maintained an “anthropocentric” approach to defining copyright ownership, viewing the AI model as a supportive tool rather than the primary creator. It underscores the legislative intent of “encouraging […]