Jay Chou is suing Chinese tech company NetEase over previous issues relating to promotions.
As reported in Yicai Global, Jay’s company JVR Music has already filed the case for rights infringement against Guangzhou NetEase Computer System Co Ltd., NetEase (Hangzhou) Network Co Ltd, and Hangzhou NetEase ThunderFire Technology Co Ltd, which will be heard in Zhejiang on 17 April.
The dispute is said to be about a promotional event for “Tianxia 3”, a multiplayer online game developed by NetEase. The company was revealed to have offered 100 sets of Jay’s digital album for free as part of the promotion, as well as tickets to his concerts.
JVR stated that it had not given NetEase the permission to use Jay’s music and that the action constitutes as infringement since consumers mistakenly believed that the singer has a specific connection to the online game.
It is noted that this is not the first time NetEase had rubbed JVR and Jay the wrong way. In 2018, the company was accused by Tencent Music of infringement, after they continuously provided users with Jay’s music after the copyright sublicense expired.
(Photo Source: Jay Chou IG)