Emir BardakçıXiaomi has secured a decisive legal triumph in its commercial defamation lawsuit against Juhaokan Technology Co., Ltd., marking a significant milestone in protecting its brand reputation and reinforcing its commitment to maintaining product integrity in the highly competitive consumer electronics market. The court has upheld the original judgment that found Juhaokan guilty of publishing false and misleading information through its “Vidda Official Weibo” account, deliberately damaging Xiaomi’s business standing and product reputation in violation of fair competition principles.
Court Confirms Deliberate Defamation
The legal battle began with a first-instance judgment on August 31, 2023, when the court determined that Juhaokan had engaged in commercial defamation by posting content that insulted and denigrated Xiaomi. The court ordered Juhaokan to publish a statement at the top of its “Vidda Official Weibo” account for seven consecutive days to mitigate the damage caused and to compensate Xiaomi with economic losses and reasonable expenses totaling 550,000 yuan (approximately $77,700).
Juhaokan Technology subsequently appealed this decision, but the higher court firmly rejected their appeal, confirming the validity of the original judgment. This final ruling represents a clear vindication for Xiaomi and sends a strong message about the consequences of engaging in unfair competitive practices.
Malicious Intent Established
The second-instance court provided a detailed analysis that thoroughly exposed Juhaokan’s malicious intent. Through careful examination of semantics, context, and the correspondence between specific subjects, combined with public perception, the court confirmed that the Weibo content posted by Juhaokan was indeed targeted at Xiaomi.
The court highlighted several key factors that demonstrated Juhaokan’s deliberate attempts to damage Xiaomi’s reputation:
- Using similar slogans to Xiaomi, such as “The First Good TV for Young People”
- Adopting comparable marketing phrases like “Our Journey is the Real Starry Sea”
- Attempting to disguise their targeting by marking with pinyin rather than direct naming
- Strategic timing of the defamatory content during the Double Eleven shopping festival
These actions clearly revealed Juhaokan’s strategy to increase their own sales by discrediting Xiaomi as a competitor, establishing a pattern of behavior that violated fair market practices.
Xiaomi’s Commitment to Legal Protection
In response to the final judgment, Xiaomi’s Legal Department expressed gratitude for the continued support and attention from consumers and stakeholders. The company affirmed its unwavering commitment to utilizing legal means to protect its legitimate rights and interests against various forms of infringement in the digital space.
This case serves as a powerful reminder of Xiaomi’s determination to defend its brand values and maintain the integrity of its products and services in the marketplace. By taking a firm stand against commercial defamation, Xiaomi demonstrates its dedication to fair competition and transparent business practices.
For users interested in staying updated with the latest Xiaomi news and system features, the HyperOSUpdates.com application or MemeOS Enhancer app from the Play Store provides access to exclusive updates. The MemeOS app additionally offers hidden Xiaomi features, system application updates, and screen update settings.
Source: IT Home
