5 US studios sue Beijing online movie provider

Five US movie studios have filed a suit against a Beijing online movie provider and a Shanghai Internet cafe for copyright infringement and are seeking more than 3.2 million yuan (US$432,000) compensation.

The case will be heard at Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate People's Court on Thursday, according to sources.

Columbia Pictures Corp, Universal City Studios, 20th Century Fox Film Corp, Paramount Pictures Corp and Disney Enterprises Inc allege that the Internet cafe installed software developed by the operator of Jeboo.com and broadcast the films without the approval of the studios.

The Internet cafe offered 13 movies, including "Night at the Museum," "X-Men United" and "Pirates of the Caribbean."

Jeboo.com, which claims to be the biggest provider of authorized movies online in China, was sued for enabling the cafe to infringe copyright.

In addition to compensation, the studios are calling on the defendants to immediately cease the practice and make a public apology.

"All the audio and video products on Jeboo.com are provided by our partners. Jeboo.com has the right to provide download service through the Internet for them according to contracts signed between Jeboo.com and our partners," said Jeboo.com in a statement.

In March, 20th Century Fox Film Corp and five other Hollywood studios successfully sued Beijing Yongsheng Century International Cultural Development Co for 192,000 yuan over the selling of pirated films.