Photographer Dai Jianfeng recently won a first-instance ruling in his two-year copyright infringement lawsuit against Visual China Group Co., Ltd. (referred to as "Visual China"). The Tianjin Heping District People's Court ruled that the photo "Village Under the Milky Way," uploaded by a Visual China-contributed photographer without authorization, constituted infringement. The court ordered Visual China to issue a public apology on its official website and pay Dai Jianfeng 15,000 yuan in compensation.
Founded in 2000 by Chai Jijun, Visual China rapidly expanded and went public on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2014 through a backdoor listing. The company later acquired Corbis, the world's third-largest image company, and the photography community 500px, becoming a globally recognized internet technology and cultural enterprise centered on visual content.
However, Visual China's aggressive expansion has been accompanied by a controversial business model that relies on legal actions to drive commercial partnerships. In April 2019, the company faced widespread criticism after claiming copyright ownership of the first-ever black hole image, as well as national flags and emblems, on its platform. The incident, known as the "Black Hole Incident," led to a temporary shutdown of its website for rectification. The fallout continues to impact the company's performance, which remains below pre-incident levels.
The recent case involving Dai Jianfeng began in August 2023 when Visual China accused him of infringing on 173 images—later revealed to be his own original works. Despite initial claims of legitimate licensing through Getty Images, Dai proved Visual China's assertions false, prompting the company to quietly remove the images without explanation. Dai subsequently received anonymous death threats and pursued legal action, culminating in the recent court ruling.
Visual China's litigation-heavy approach has drawn criticism. A 2024 study by Tsinghua University scholars analyzed 3,965 court rulings involving Visual China, highlighting its tendency to target commercial entities and file lawsuits in specific jurisdictions. The study suggested regulatory measures to curb such practices, which are seen as detrimental to copyright market development.
Financially, Visual China has struggled to regain its peak performance. While 2024 revenue grew 3.89% year-over-year to 811 million yuan, net profit fell 18.17% to 119 million yuan—significantly below 2018 levels. The first three quarters of 2025 showed modest revenue growth of 0.3% but a 9.03% decline in net profit, attributed to macroeconomic pressures on the advertising sector. Gross and net profit margins also contracted year-over-year.
The company's market capitalization has plummeted by over 31.8 billion yuan from its 2015 peak, with shares closing at 25.32 yuan on November 25, 2025. In a bid to expand globally, Visual China recently announced plans for a potential Hong Kong IPO, though uncertainties remain regarding timing and execution.
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