TikTok Accuses Chinese Firm of Lying, Seeks Dismissal of Copyright Case
By Editorial Team
TikTok Inc. has accused a Chinese multimedia software company, Beijing Meishe Network Technology Co., of deceiving US federal courts about the ownership of video editing code in an ongoing dispute. TikTok filed a motion for sanctions in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging that Meishe provided false sworn statements claiming independent development of the code.
According to TikTok, Meishe’s deception was uncovered during fact discovery when an expert report revealed the truth. TikTok is now urging the court to dismiss the lawsuit before the scheduled jury trial in four months, citing Meishe’s evasions and falsehoods that have made it impossible to discern the truth.
Meishe had filed copyright infringement and trade secret claims against TikTok in 2021, alleging that a former engineer stole protected code in 2015 before joining TikTok. The code in question pertains to video and audio editing technology allegedly used by TikTok after the engineer started working as an audio and video director at the company in 2017.
The legal battle between the two parties has involved various discovery disputes, including a court order for TikTok to provide source code, financial data, and usage details related to its applications’ foreign distribution. TikTok also sought information on Meishe’s connection with China Digital Video (Beijing) Limited, known as XAT, which Meishe allegedly concealed until after discovery concluded.
TikTok claims that Meishe’s apex witnesses have shown a willingness to provide false testimony, with the company’s chief technology officer admitting inaccuracies in sworn statements. TikTok argues that termination of the case is justified, or alternatively, requests evidentiary sanctions against Meishe.
If the case proceeds, TikTok suggests that Meishe should be barred from presenting undisclosed evidence and compelled to admit that the asserted code was unlawfully copied. Cherian LLP represents Meishe in this legal battle, while White & Case LLP and Covington & Burling LLP are representing TikTok.
The case, titled Beijing Meishe Network Tech. Co. Ltd. v. TikTok Inc., is ongoing in the Northern District of California with the motion for sanctions filed on June 16, 2025.
