Internet and Online Business

Internet and Online Business Experience

• Successfully defended Alibaba in proceedings commenced in Hong Kong by cosmetics supplier Mary Kay against three Alibaba companies and two shops on the www.tmall.com platform. The landmark decision clarifies Hong Kong law on parallel imports and liability of online platforms for IP Infringement as well as the jurisdiction of Hong Kong Courts in relation to online sales by platforms based outside of Hong Kong.

• Representing companies in the Gmedia group in a Hong Kong patent infringement action against Tencent Holdings (the leading mobile internet company in Mainland China) over the use of Gmedia’s QR code technology in Tencent’s Weixin and WeChat products.

• Advised a multinational technology company that specialises in Internet-related services and products on its video streaming platforms' paid subscription services including potential liability for copyright infringement, joint tortfeasorship, defamation, the treatment of violent and/or obscene contents, advertising, data privacy issues and anti-spamming laws.

• Advised a Hong Kong start-up on issuance of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), royalty models and resale of NFTs and negotiation of copyright licences of virtual collectible contents.

• Advised a well-known Japanese electronics company on IP and privacy issues involved in transmitting and viewing real-time network camera images through an online platform.

• Advised a Japanese multinational consumer electronics and video game company on data privacy and issues regarding direct marketing, target marketing and behavioral tracking relating to its consumer products, customer accounts, and customer loyalty programme, the privacy implications of an in-game virtual currency management system, smart device applications and user generated contents, including the rights of minors.

• Advised a leading publisher of travel guides on issues arising from the launch of a mobile app including copyright in the app software and content of the app, the user terms and conditions and privacy policy.

• Advised a business providing online financial data and news services on its licence-in and licence-out agreements, software and technology development agreements.

• Advised a leading Chinese multinational technology company specialising in e-commerce on data privacy and consumer protection issues relating to the sale and advertising of consumer products on e-commerce platforms including reviewing and amending terms of service and privacy policies.

• Advised a leading Japanese information and communications technology provider on provision of cloud computing services in Hong Kong and a US information technology company with global operations on cloud computing and data privacy issues in Mainland China.

• Advised a US online social media and social networking platform on Mainland China compliance issues in relation to its global online promotional campaigns and contests.

• Advised a multinational e-commerce company in relation to its online user experience research survey with prize incentives on Mainland China compliance issues under the Anti-Unfair Competition Law.

• Advised a quantitative fund in relation to an online, data-driven, marketing campaign on Mainland China compliance issues under the Anti-Unfair Competition Law, Advertising Law and Trademark Law.