Company ordered to compensate SOHO China for defamation
A company was ordered by a Beijing court to pay 200,000 yuan (US$29,793) in compensation to a real estate developer for defamation.
Shengun Internet Co published a story on its WeChat account on November 10, 2018, claiming that Wangjing SOHO, an office building in Beijing developed by SOHO China, had poor fengshui that would hurt the performance of tech firms based in the building, Chaoyang District People’s Court said on its website on Wednesday.
The story claimed that companies located at Wangjing SOHO were doomed and should move as soon as possible. The post had been viewed over 100,000 times by the time it was taken down, the court heard.
Fengshui is a traditional Chinese practice used to arrange objects in an auspicious manner so as to achieve success, health and happiness.
The story also used photos of Pan Shiyi, SOHO China’s chairman, without proper permission, according to the court.
The court ruled the story diminished Wangjing SOHO’s reputation with “biased analysis and arbitrary conclusions.”
Shenggun Internet was also ordered to issue an apology in Legal Daily for three consecutive days, the court said.
Wangjing SOHO is a trio of towers designed by architect Zaha Hadid.
