TikTok’s Parent Company ByteDance Accused of Code Plagiarism: Key Details and Legal Outcomes

The parent company of TikTok, ByteDance, has been embroiled in a high-profile legal battle with Beijing Meishe Network Technology Co., Ltd. (Meishe Tech) over alleged software code plagiarism. The case, which spanned over three and a half years, concluded with a final ruling by China’s Supreme Court in February 2025, ordering ByteDance and its affiliates to pay approximately 82.668 million yuan (about $11.6 million) in damages and cease infringing activities.

Background of the Case

1. Meishe’s Allegations:
   Meishe Tech accused ByteDance’s apps, including TikTok, Douyin (China’s version of TikTok), and seven others (e.g., CapCut, Faceu, and Lightroom), of copying core code from Meishe’s proprietary SDK software for audio-video editing. The infringed code reportedly underpinned critical features like video processing and effects, which are central to user experience.
   • Meishe claimed that a former employee, identified as Xie, illegally obtained and shared their technical secrets after joining ByteDance. The Supreme Court affirmed that Xie had unlawfully disclosed Meishe’s code and that ByteDance knowingly used it.
2. ByteDance’s Defense:
   Douyin’s Vice President Li Liang acknowledged that a small portion of code written by the ex-Meishe employee was reused in ByteDance’s products but argued it constituted only 0.8% of TikTok’s codebase and 4% of Meishe’s original software. Li emphasized that the employee’s actions violated company policies, leading to his dismissal.

Controversial Legal Tactics

• U.S. Court Drama: During U.S. litigation, Meishe sought to compel ByteDance to disclose 1,215 pages of TikTok’s source code, a move ByteDance labeled as a “malicious attempt” to expose trade secrets. The U.S. court rejected Meishe’s request, deeming it excessive and unrelated to the case’s scope.
• Code Comparison Dispute: In Chinese courts, ByteDance refused to provide complete source code for its apps, hindering direct comparisons. Meishe criticized this as obstructionist, asserting that code volume alone does not negate the value of stolen core algorithms.

Broader Implications

1. Intellectual Property Precedent:
   Legal experts, such as lawyer Miao Guangdong, highlight the case’s role in clarifying boundaries for employee mobility and trade secret protection. The ruling underscores that code developed during employment belongs to the employer, and its unauthorized reuse—even in minimal amounts—can trigger severe penalties6.
2. Corporate Accountability:
   Meishe demanded public apologies from ByteDance across its platforms, stressing that the verdict should deter tech giants from exploiting smaller firms’ innovations. Meanwhile, ByteDance pledged stricter compliance training and code audits to prevent future breaches.
3. TikTok’s Ongoing Challenges:
   This case adds to ByteDance’s legal woes, coinciding with TikTok’s forced shutdown in the U.S. due to a January 2025 ban. Oracle, TikTok’s U.S. data host, terminated its servers following a Supreme Court ruling upholding the “sell-or-ban” law.

Conclusion

The Meishe-ByteDance case exemplifies the tensions between rapid technological innovation and intellectual property rights in the digital age. While ByteDance downplays the scale of infringement, the court’s hefty penalty signals a growing judicial emphasis on protecting proprietary code. For TikTok, already grappling with geopolitical pressures, the verdict further complicates its global reputation and operational stability.

References: Details derived from court documents, corporate statements, and expert analyses.