Apple is facing yet another legal headache in China thanks to what may be the craziest lawsuit yet in a year that has been full of wacky legal battles.
China’s media watchdog, The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT), has filed a lawsuit against Apple, claiming the company has violated its intellectual property by broadcasting an obscure patriotic film from 1994.
The Chinese government agency claims it has suffered “huge economic losses” because Apple allowed Youku Tudou — the Chinese equivalent of Youtube — to broadcast the film “Xuebo Dixiao” to Apple TV users. A grand total of $7,510 (50,000 yuan) in damages has been requested by the agency, according to a statement from a court in Beijing’s Haidian district.
This isn’t the first time SAPPRFT has given Apple grief. The company had to shutdown the iBookstore and iTunes Movies earlier this year thanks to the agency.
The movie in question, “Xuebo Dixiao,” is a pro-China film that tells the story of a patriotic Chinese doctor that fights back against Japan’s occupying forces. The title translates to “Bloody Fight With Our Brave Enemies.” If you want to see it for yourself, it can be streamed online for free.
It’s unbelievable that Apple could be held responsible for videos posted on Youku Tudou, instead of the agency going aftrt the stresming service directly. At this point it seems like China is just chucking lawsuits at Apple for the lulz.
