Bytedance sues iQiyi for streaming boy band episode of an original show

Beijing’s Haidian Court announced that it’s accepted a suit by content purveyor Bytedance against Baidu’s video platform iQiyi for allegedly streaming an episode of an original show.

Bytedance is requesting that iQiyi take down the episode of Watermelon Rice (xigua banfan, our translation) and compensate for losses with a payment of RMB 100,000. As of Monday evening, a search for the episode title on iQiyi’s website came up empty.

According to Bytedance, the variety show began airing on its news app Jinri Toutiao late last November. Toutiao’s parent company produced the show and also holds its copyright. Bytedance claims an episode that features members from Chinese boy band Ninepercent, released online December 9, also appeared on iQiyi’s platform the same day.

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