29 February, 2016
Chinese online video site LeTV has sued internet search company Baidu, accusing it of blocking advertising without permission, China Daily has reported.
LeTV said that Baidu has stripped all pre-roll, webpage and cut-in advertising from LeTV content when showing it through the Baidu video app. This means that LeTV gains no advertising revenue from the content, it said, according to China Daily.
Viewers are also mistaking the source of the video content, LeTV said. Because there is no reference to LeTV, users assume they are watching Baidu content, it said.
LeTV has asked Baidu to stop the "illicit competition" and to pay compensation of 1 million yuan ($153,000), China Daily reported.
No date has been set for the hearing, but the Haidian District People's Court has accepted the case, the news site said.
For further information, please contact:
Guy Lougher, Partner, Pinsent Masons
guy.lougher@pinsentmasons.com
