Baidu Sues Sogou for Hijacking Traffic via IME
Sina Tech, 4/23/15
A new trial for Chinese search engine operator Baidu's (Nasdaq: BIDU) lawsuit against rival Sohu's (Nasdaq: SOHU) online search subsidiary Sogou for unfair competition began yesterday in Beijing after the first hearing was adjourned due to the controversial nature of the case. Baidu claims that Sogou's integration of search functionality in its Chinese character input method editor (IME) last year is effectively hijacking Baidu search engine traffic, and is seeking RMB 1.2 mln in damages, a public apology, and removal of the functionality from the IME.
Editor's Note: Input method editors are software programs that allow the user, using a standard Roman alphabet keyboard, to turn their input into Chinese characters. The issue about which Baidu is filing suit is that when a user uses Sogou Input Method Editor to input a search on Baidu (or simply to type it into a Word or Excel file), and mouses over the desired word or phrase, the IME automatically displays a dropdown menu containing an option to search Sogou for that keyword, effectively preempting what might have been a search on Baidu. For more background on this topic, please see "Sogou's Updated IME Integrates Search, Hijacks Search Engine Traffic" MD 12/30/14 issue.
Keywords: Internet online search Baidu Sogou Sohu BIDU litigation law Chinese character input
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