China’s Monopoly Test Cases Settled

The Financial Times reported that Chinese courts gave more power to Chinese consumers through the new anti monopoly laws. A Beijing court ordered China Mobile (HKG: 0941), the world’s largest mobile phone group, to pay Rmb 1,000 ($146) to one of its customers. The customer filed a case alleging that China Mobile used its monopoly position to extract unfair revenue. While many feel that consumers will get more power due to the new law launched in August 2008, legal experts feel that it will be a big burden for the consumers when providing evidence.

In another instance, a Shanghai Court dismissed a case stating that the plaintiff did not have strong evidence to prove its allegations. The plaintiff, a small online publisher, tried unsuccessfully to encourage authors to write a sequel to a novel published by Shanda Interactive Entertainment (NASDAQ: SNDA). Shanda is a online portal for games.