Baidu is suing Apple and app developers over fake Ernie Bot apps
Chinese search engine giant Baidu has filed a lawsuit against “major” app developers and Apple Inc over counterfeit copies of its Ernie bot app available on Apple’s app store.
The company’s AI-powered Ernie bot, launched last month, has been touted as China’s closest answer to US-developed ChatGPT.
Baidu said it filed a lawsuit in Beijing’s Haidian People’s Court against the developers behind the Ernie bot and Apple’s fake apps.
“Currently, Ernie does not have an official app,” Baidu said in a statement late Friday, posted on its official “Baidu AI” WeChat account.
It also released a photo of its court filing.
“Prior to our company’s official announcement, any Ernie apps you see on the App Store or other stores are fake,” it said.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A Reuters search on Saturday found that at least four apps bearing the Chinese name of the Ernie bot were still listed on Apple’s App Store, all fake.
The Ernie bot is only available to users who request and receive access codes. In its statement, Baidu also warned people against selling access codes.
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