Tencent Video sued Douyin for copyright infringement of "Sweeping Dark Storm" and demanded compensation of 100 million yuan

"Sweeping Dark Storm" is a TV series starring Sun Honglei, Zhang Yixing and Liu Yijun, which is currently being broadcast on Tencent Video. Recently, Tencent Video discovered that a large number of unauthorized infringing videos of "Sweeping Dark Storm" appeared on Douyin. Tencent Video sued the Douyin platform for 100 million yuan.

According to domestic media reports, because the hit TV series "Sweeping Dark Storm" was copied and edited by Douyin without authorization, Tencent Video sued Douyin in the Beijing Intellectual Property Court for copyright infringement and unfair competition.

Tencent Video requested that Douyin be ordered to delete, filter, and block the infringing videos of "Sweeping Dark Storm" on the platform, and stop spreading the infringing videos through Douyin to seek improper benefits. At the same time, it also requested Douyin to compensate for economic losses and rights protection expenses totaling 100 million yuan. The Beijing Intellectual Property Court accepted the case on August 17.

Tencent Video said that it had sent "Rights Warning Letters" to Douyin for three consecutive days before the show started, and after discovering the infringement, it continued to send "Infringement Notice Letters" to the defendant. However, within an hour of the show's premiere night, users on Douyin uploaded infringing content one after another, and then there were clips of the most exciting clips from all the episodes updated that night (including those that only VIP paying users can watch), as well as compilation content.

However, the defendant did not delete the infringing video within 12 hours after the plaintiff sent the letter, nor did it take effective measures to prohibit users from uploading infringing videos. Instead, it actively recommended users to watch infringing videos through algorithms, technology and other means, allowing the infringing videos to be quickly and widely spread on the Douyin platform.

A lawyer said that in general, video platforms will review uploaded content. If there is obvious infringement, the platform should not allow it to be uploaded, otherwise it may constitute indirect infringement (assisting infringement). The video field has high requirements for copyright protection, which also puts higher and stricter requirements on platform management. The protection of creators' copyright is a red line that cannot be crossed.

The relevant legal affairs director of Douyin responded to this: No notice has been received from the court yet. "Sweeping Dark Storm" has previously established cooperation with Douyin. The third party that cooperated with Tencent to produce the drama has opened an official account for the work on Douyin, published 80 works and received nearly 10 million likes, and it is still being updated.

The cooperation requires Douyin to plan hot topics and other operational activities for the drama. Douyin has promptly handled Tencent's previous complaints about the drama and will actively respond to the specific circumstances of Tencent's lawsuit.