In the News: Blockchain Technology; AI Industry and iPhone Sales Ban
December 11, 2018 | BY
Jacelyn JohnsonHangzhou Internet Court implements blockchain technology to protect copyright on online literary works; China's artificial intelligence industry is expected to top global peers by 2030; and a Chinese court grants Qualcomm injunctions against iPhone sales.
Blockchain Adopted by Internet Court to Protect Writers' Copyright
The Hangzhou Internet Court has decided to implement blockchain technology in an attempt to fight piracy and protect the copyright of online writers. The technology will allow writers to produce the process of the work and submit to court as evidence.
According to Wang Jiangqiao, a judge at the Internet court, the technology allows all digital footprints to be stored in the judicial blockchain system, including authorship, time of creation, content and evidence of infringement. This guarantees that data cannot be tempered, as it is a decentralized and openly distributed ledger technology.
This would allow writers publishing their work online to safeguard their legal rights and be able to produce reliable evidence. Previously, writers would have to rely on screenshots and downloaded content as evidence, which was not credible enough to gain legal recognition.
The Hangzhou court's move follows up the Supreme People's Court's Provisions on Certain Issues in Internet Court Trial Cases which came into force on Sept. 7. The Hangzhou Internet Court ruled in June this year that evidence authenticated by blockchain technology was admissible. This new implementation is in line with China's efforts to protect intellectual property and curb online infringement.
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China's Artificial Intelligence Industry Expected to Exceed $145 billion by 2030
A latest report by Bloomberg Intelligence titled “China's great leap forward” indicated that China's push to commercialize artificial intelligence technologies, supported by the roll-out of the world's biggest 5G network, could position the country to be a global leader for technology and innovation.
AI-related industries may exceed 6% of China's GDP by 2030, the report stated, with China expected to overtake global peers in the commercialization of AI technologies as large amounts of capital is expected to be invested in the industry.
Vey-Sern Ling, lead analyst of the Bloomberg Intelligence report, said that top-down support was an important factor in the growth trajectory of the industry, as well as multi-faceted user data and the funding available contributed to the industry's fast development. Private funding for Chinese AI-related companies in 2017 totaled $27.7 billion, which was equivalent to 70% of global investment in the industry.
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Qualcomm Wins Sales Injunctions Against Apple's iPhones in China
The Fuzhou Intermediate People's Court granted two injunctions against Apple subsidiaries in China for violating two patents of U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm Inc. The injunctions effectively prohibit Apple from selling various older iPhone models in China. Apple said on Monday that all of its iPhone models will remain on sale in China and that it has filed for an appeal against the injunctions.
China, Hong Kong and Taiwan accounts for about 20% of Apple's $265.6 billion in sales in its most recent fiscal year. Qualcomm had filed its case in late 2017, alleging patent violations on features that allows users to reformat the size and appearance of photos and manage applications on a touchscreen when navigating through phone applications.
According to a press release by Qualcomm, there are additional actions seeking similar relief for Apple's infringement of other Qualcomm patents that are pending in China and other jurisdictions.
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