On September 8, 2025, to mark the start of the 2025 China Fair Competition Policy Publicity Week (September 8-12), the Supreme People's Court released its list of 2025 Landmark Cases on Anti-Unfair Competition. This initiative aims to highlight the exemplary and guiding role of judicial rulings.
The eight landmark cases released cover crucial legal issues, including confusion and imitation, trade secret infringement, commercial disparagement, identification of unfair online competition, and the application of the general clause of the Anti-Unfair Competition Law. Among these, a case handled by Llinks concerning unfair competition by a third-party online gaming platform was selected as Case No. 4. (Guangzhou Intellectual Property Court (2022) Yue 73 Min Zhong 3597; Guangzhou Internet Court (2020) Yue 0192 Min Chu 46315). The case addressed the specific legal path for protecting rights to virtual property on the internet, an issue at the forefront of the new digital economy. The Guangzhou Intellectual Property Court proactively adapted to the new demands of internet industry development, working to maintain fair competition and the orderly growth of the online gaming sector. This case was also previously included in the Guangzhou Intellectual Property Court's "Top 10 Judicial Protection Cases of 2024" and the "People's Court Case Library" (ID: 2024-09-2-488-006).
This case centered on the cutting-edge legal issues surrounding virtual gaming property, a new type of internet business. After being retained, Llinks lawyers conducted an in-depth analysis of the facts, uncovered and organized key evidence, and presented a detailed legal argument. Following two rounds of court proceedings, we secured a favorable outcome for our client, resulting in a high-value compensation award of 3 million yuan. This case also has landmark significance for internet-related judicial practice. It was the first to explicitly define the legal attributes of different types of virtual property, clarifying the service boundaries for gaming transaction platforms. It provides clear guidance for the regulated development of third-party platforms and plays a positive role in building a healthy and orderly digital economic ecosystem.
