Shanghai Shuimu Animation Design Co has sued two companies, including Sony China, over intellectual property rights violation, in the country's first case where a Chinese company is taking a big-name rival to court.

Shuimu Animation found that four pieces of its cartoon artworks are displayed - without authorization - when a user tries to register to access Internet services on Sony television. The registration has to be done through the website of Beijing AnviewTech Co.

Sony's flat screen KDL-40NX710 model TV, which can be connected to the Internet, requires users to register for Internet-related service at Beijing AnviewTech's website.

Shanghai's Changning District Notarial Office has issued certificates to show that the cartoon artworks used by Sony TV were created by Shuimu Animation.

Shen Ying, vice president of Shuimu Animation, told Shanghai Daily yesterday that they were seeking compensation of less than 200 million yuan (US$31.27 million) from the two defendants.

Beijing AnviewTech provides Sony and other TV manufacturers with vocational training material and other educational video content through its online platform, and users can access their video content through Internet-connected mobile devices as well as Internet protocol TV sets.

Sony China could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The Beijing Dongcheng District People's Court has accepted the case and has scheduled a mediation between the plaintiff and the defendants next Wednesday.