SPC aims to unify trial standards in Yangtze River Delta courts

China's top court released information about 16 notable cases involving the Yangtze River Delta on Monday in an effort to unify trial standards and promote high-quality development in the region by rule of law.

The cases cover various crimes — including those involving internet platforms, environmental protection, intellectual property and finance — reflecting the major developing sectors in the delta and showing how the judiciary is responding to public concerns.

For example, the Jiangsu Consumer Council filed a public-interest lawsuit against an electronic technology enterprise at the Nanjing Intermediate People's Court in the delta, claiming that a 15-second advertisement, which was automatically played when smart televisions sold by the company were turned on, infringed on consumers' rights.

The council asked the company to offer customers an option to disable the ad, saying they shouldn't be forced to watch it every time they turn on their TVs. After the enterprise failed to correct the issue, the council sued it.

In November 2020, the court found in favor of the council, ordering the company to provide an option for consumers to disable the ad. It clarified in the ruling that consumers have the right to choose or reject products or services.

In March 2021, the Jiangsu High People's Court upheld the original verdict after the company appealed.

It was China's first public-interest litigation concerning a smart TV.

"Even though the ad was just 15 seconds long, it violated the legitimate rights of consumers and also affected the healthy development of the smart TV industry," said Qi Su, deputy chief judge of the Third Circuit Court with the Supreme People's Court, the country's top court.

Highlighting the significance of responding quickly to public concerns by efficiently solving similar disputes, Qi also called for courts across the delta to continue to make stronger efforts to protect the regional environment by strictly implementing the Yangtze River Protection Law and preventing financial risks by case handling.

She said that disclosing the influential cases will help judges in Shanghai and in the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui unify trial standards, explaining that doing so will contribute to meeting the public's legal demands and protecting people's legitimate rights.

She revealed that judges from the four areas will continue their exchanges and case sharing, especially those concerning hot issues and new problems in emerging industries, to further serve the delta's high-quality development and innovation efforts.