Top court orders Qihoo to compensate Tencent

The lawyer representing Tencent, the plaintiff, answers questions after the trial against Qihoo 360 at Guangdong Provincial High People's Court in this file photo taken in 2013.[Photo/IC]

China's top court ratified the original judgment on the anti-monopoly dispute between two Chinese Internet giants, Qihoo 360 Technology Co Ltd and Tencent Inc, on Thursday.

In April 2012, Qihoo 360, the leading anti-virus and security software provider, sued Tencent, popularly known for its instant messaging services, QQ and Wechat, in Guangdong Provincial People's Court for monopolizing the market and asked for 125 million yuan in compensation.

But the provincial court dismissed the appeal in March 2013. Qihoo 360 later appealed to the Supreme People's Court.

The SPC announced on Thursday that it maintains the initial ruling. It is also the final verdict in the high-profile case.

In addition to the anti-monopoly dispute, charges of unfair competition between the two companies also aroused the public's attention.

In April 2013, the provincial court said that Qihoo 360 had engaged in unfair competition and anti-monopoly practices and should pay Tencent 5 million yuan ($820,000) in compensation for economic losses.

The Supreme People's Court (SPC) rejected the appeal by Qihoo 360, and also kept the provincial verdict in February.

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