At the beginning of 2023, the video platform iQIYI caused dissatisfaction among netizens due to the "restriction of screen casting", and then a user took iQIYI to court. It is understood that the user is a seven-year "old fan" of the iQiyi platform. On July 1, 2024, some media learned from the plaintiff that after more than a year of trial of the case, the "iQiyi Restricted Screen Projection Case" finally fell under the gavel in the first instance recently. The court ruled that the plaintiff enjoyed the rights and interests of 720P and 1080P high-definition projection before July 15, 2025, and the iQiyi platform compensated the plaintiff for 41 days of gold member VIP time.
Part of the verdict.
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In January 2023, iQiyi App began to restrict the projection function, and the previous gold VIP members supported the highest 4K definition projection, but it was changed to only the lowest 480P definition, and if you want to carry out 4K projection, you must buy platinum VIP members. This topic has sparked a lot of discussion.
Zhu Yuan, who works in Guangdong, has been a member of iQiyi since 2017. At the time of the incident, he was already a 7-year "old fan" of iQiyi. Not only that, Zhu Yuan has been continuously recharging to become a gold VIP member of the iQiyi platform for more than 5 years.
In the process of using iQiyi before, Zhu Yuan has been using the projection function, and any definition of the projection screen can be selected at that time. On January 11, 2023, Zhu Yuan found that iQiyi limited the projection resolution of gold VIP members to 480P, and if you need higher definition, you must upgrade to a higher level member. Zhu Yuan noticed that regarding screen projection, iQiyi had previously made changes to limit the definition of third-party screen projection, and only official clients were allowed to use the official client for screen projection without definition restrictions. "As a member, the screen projection function is an important membership benefit for me, and it is also an important consideration for me to purchase and renew iQIYI membership."
Zhu Yuan said that he had no intention of stopping and understood iQiyi's adjustment behavior based on changes in the business environment, but as a senior paid member, he did not accept the platform's behavior of restricting the rights and interests of prior members. "iQIYI's unilateral forced 'cutting leeks' behavior is a bit ugly."
After communicating with iQIYI's customer service to no avail, Zhu Yuan believed that iQIYI's unilateral change of the terms of the contract had constituted a breach of contract and should bear the liability for breach of contract, so Zhu Yuan sued iQIYI in court. He said that he does not ask for civil compensation, and only requires iQiyi not to restrict the projection clarity in any way during the membership period.
The Beijing Internet Court filed a case on the above-mentioned contract dispute. iQIYI's official Weibo announced on the afternoon of February 1 that it will be treated seriously and prudently in line with the principles of respecting the law, respecting contracts, and respecting consumer rights and interests.
Zhu Yuan's experience resonated with many netizens. After the "iQIYI Restricted Screen Projection Case" rushed to the hot search, netizens accused iQIYI of "eating too ugly".
In the face of huge pressure from public opinion, a month after Zhu Yuan took iQiyi to court, on February 20, 2023, iQiyi released a statement on the optimization of iQiyi membership services through its official Weibo, and adjusted the projection function, saying that it would restore the projection function of "iQiyi Gold Member" 720p and 1080p definition, and paid users can continue to use it until the end of the order. Although the limit on the number of logged-in devices still exists, there is no longer a limit on the types of devices that can log in at the same time.
On February 20, 2023, iQIYI issued an announcement.
iQIYI said in the announcement released that recently, the discussion triggered by the member experience has made iQIYI deeply aware that user-centricity and attaching importance to user experience are the premise and foundation for doing a good job in content, products and services. After careful consideration and urgent research and development, iQIYI has made the following adjustments. The specific adjustment is reflected in the fact that iQIYI Gold VIP members who are still in subscription on February 20, 2023 will resume 720P and 1080P resolution screen projection services: members of a single month/season/annual card can use it until the end of this order; Consecutive monthly/quarterly/yearly members can continue to use it if they continue to subscribe in the future.
At the same time, in order to facilitate users to use across terminals, from February 20, 2023, iQIYI Gold, Platinum, and Star Diamond VIP members can log in on 5 devices, and there is no longer a restriction on the types of login devices. There is no longer any restriction on the type of devices that can be played at the same time, that is, any 2 gold VIP members (mobile phones/computers/tablets); Any 2 Platinum VIP members (mobile phone/computer/tablet/TV, etc.); Star Diamond VIP members (mobile phone/computer/tablet/TV/VR, etc.) any 3 sets. When the number of playback devices reaches the upper limit, iQIYI will prompt the user to select the playback device they wish to use. If the account is locked due to security risks such as abnormal IP addresses, users can unlock the account by changing the password.
On July 1, 2024, the media learned from the plaintiff Zhu Yuan that the first-instance judgment of the "iQiyi Restricted Screen Projection Case" has been issued and is still under appeal.
According to the judgment, the first-instance judgment of the "iQIYI Restricted Screen Projection Case" is: the plaintiff, as a golden VIP member of iQIYI APP, enjoys the rights and interests of 720P and 1080P resolution projection before July 15, 2025; Within seven days from the effective date of this judgment, iQIYI will compensate the plaintiff for 41 days of VIP membership time for gold members.
Although the results of the first trial have been released, Zhu Yuan still has questions in his heart that have not been answered. "After iQIYI issued an announcement on February 20, 2023, the high-definition projection rights and interests are only available to distinguished gold members who have officially opened automatic renewal on iQIYI, that is to say, under the same circumstances, the cost of a single-year card on iQIYI's official channels is more expensive than that of a continuous annual subscription. The same is constantly ordered, and the rights and interests that spend more money are less. So for the verdict, Zhu Yuan is still seriously considering whether to appeal.
In fact, this is not the first time iQIYI has been involved in a lawsuit.
At the end of 2019, the online drama "Celebrating More Than Years" was on the air, iQiyi started advanced on-demand, VIP members spent 50 yuan, and watched 6 more episodes than members on each update day.
On June 2, 2020, the first-instance judgment of the "Celebrating More Than Years" Advanced On-Demand Case" was announced, and the court found that the "paid advanced on-demand" updated after purchasing iQiyi members constituted a breach of contract. The court confirmed in court that iQIYI's "iQIYI VIP Member Service Agreement" was partially invalid; The updated "paid advance on-demand" clause after Mr. Wu purchased the membership service shall not take effect on Mr. Wu; iQIYI continued to provide Wu with the original membership rights.
The court held that there was nothing inappropriate in the "advance on-demand" model in itself, but it should not prejudice the existing rights and interests of members. It was decided that the defendant iQIYI provided the plaintiff with the rights and interests of the plaintiff's original VIP membership for 15 consecutive days, and the defendant compensated the plaintiff for the loss of notary fees of 1,500 yuan.
Judging from the judgment, the court did not deny the "advanced on-demand" model of the video platform and recognized the differentiated and adaptable personalized services, but held that the platform should not harm the existing rights and interests of members, and should follow the commercial terms and respect the feelings of users, so it ruled that the platform constituted a breach of contract and needed to compensate users for losses. It can be seen that the law supports the commercial innovation of the platform, and encourages beneficial exploration and experimentation within a reasonable range, but the rights and interests of members must be respected, and the terms of service shall not be changed without authorization, resulting in disguised fees and increasing the burden on member users.
Source: iQIYI's official Weibo.
■Synthesized from Modern Express, @爱奇艺, @人民日报, and the Voice of Literature and Art
■Editor: Yue Yue, Zhang Grandma