Apple ordered to cease infringement of Chinese writers work

Electronics giant Apple Inc has been ordered to stop infringing the copyright of eight Chinese writers and pay them more than 400,000 yuan ($64,000) in compensation.

The order was in a verdict handed down by Beijing No 2 Intermediate People's Court on Thursday.

The court ordered Apple to cease selling electronic versions of the writers' books and compensate them 412,000 yuan in total.

The eight plaintiffs include Murong Xuecun, Li Chengpeng and He Ma, popular writers whose books are often on best-seller lists across the country, said Wang Guohua, the writers' lawyer.

Wang said after the court hearing that he is satisfied with the verdict regarding the infringement, but said the amount of compensation was too low.

The eight writers claimed Apple sold their books through its App Store without authorization, prompting them to appeal to the court at the beginning of this year. The case started on Oct 11.

Wang said he has informed the Writers' Rights Protection Union, of the verdict.

He said the writers may appeal the case to higher court due to the low compensation.

Apple refused to comment on the verdict.