Baidu loses copyright appeal

Baidu’s appeal against an unfair competition verdict has been dismissed in Shanghai.

In May last year, the search engine company lost in a lawsuit filed by Shanghai Hantao Information Consulting Co, which owns the leading lifestyle information provider Dianping.com.

Baidu was ordered to pay 3 million yuan (US$459,805) for using its contents without permission and a further 230,000 yuan to cover other fees. 

According to the Pudong New Area People’s Court, Baidu has copied large amounts of customer reviews and images from Dianping since 2012 and added them as part of the service to its mapping function. It caused Dianping to lose web traffic and revenue, and Baidu’s actions were deemed unfair competition. 

Baidu appealed to Shanghai Intellectual Property Court, arguing the ruling was made without taking into account facts and evidence. But its appeal was dismissed.

Baidu copied contents, breached business ethics and severely damaged Dianping’s interests, the court said. It ordered Baidu to pay 3.23 million yuan.