China: Landmark Tencent, Qihoo antitrust dispute partially resolved

A years-long dispute between Internet rivals Qihoo and Tencent has at least partially been resolved, as Qihoo has lost its appeal of an earlier ruling that it engaged in unfair competition with its rival.

Reports say China’s Supreme People’s Court sided with Tencent in its allegations that Qihoo publically criticized its rival’s QQ instant messaging service.

Reports say Qihoo first slammed Tencent in 2010 by claiming Tencent violated its consumers’ privacy through QQ, tied with an antivirus program.

In turn, Qihoo began offering its own antivirus software; Tencent encouraged its customers not to use Qihoo as it was not compatible with QQ.

Tencent sued its rival over the negative allegations of QQ, and has successfully been backed by the Supreme People’s Court.

But the battle between the Internet companies is not over, as China’s highest court is now considering another appeal filed by Qihoo against an earlier ruling that found Qihoo failed to show Tencent held market dominance and harmed competition in the instant messaging industry.

Full Content: Bloomberg

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