Apple Inc is being sued by a subsidiary of China’s broadcasting regulator over a propaganda film more than 20 years old, in the latest legal wrangling for the tech giant in China in recent weeks.
A Beijing court says the case has been brought by a production center that alleges that Apple has infringed its exclusive online rights to broadcast a film that depicts Chinese fighting against Japanese soldiers in northern China in the early 1930s.
The plaintiff is also suing the developer and operator of the Youku HD app available on Apple’s App Store that it says enabled users to watch the film and caused it “huge economic losses,” the Beijing Haidian District People’s Court said.
The court says it has accepted the case brought by Movie Satellite Channel Program Production Center that comes under the Chinese State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television.
The plaintiff alleges that Apple has infringed its exclusive online rights to broadcast Xuebo Dixiao (血搏敵梟), which loosely translates as “Bloody Fight with the Fierce Enemy” and was first shown in 1994.
The center is also suing Heyi Information and Technology (Beijing) Co Ltd (合一信息技術), which developed and operates the Youku HD app, the court said in an online statement on Thursday.
The app is sold by Youku.com, according to information on Apple’s iTunes site. The Youku site is one of China’s best known movie and TV program streaming sites and is owned by Youku Tudou Inc (優酷土豆), which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The plaintiff wants the two companies to immediately stop broadcasting the film and is seeking compensation of 50,000 yuan (US$7,500) plus its “reasonable expenditure” of 20,158 yuan (US$3,000) in attempting to stop the infringement of its rights, the court said.
Apple has recently faced legal setbacks and other obstacles in China, its second-biggest global market. In April, it suspended its iBooks and iTunes Movies services, reportedly due to an order by Chinese regulators.
In May, a Beijing intellectual property tribunal in Beijing ordered Apple to stop selling its iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in the city after finding they look too much like a model made by a small Chinese brand. Sales of the phones are continuing while Apple appeals.
Also in May, Apple suffered a setback when a court ruled that a Chinese company is allowed to use the iPhone trademark on bags, wallets and other leather goods.
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