Baidu sues Apple and app developers over bogus Ernie bot apps - report
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Chinese search engine giant Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU) has taken legal action against Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and "related" app developers for counterfeit versions of its Ernie bot programme that are available on Apple's app store, according to Reuters.
Baidu's AI powered Ernie bot, which debuted last month, is China's answer to the ChatGPT chatbot developed in the United States by Microsoft (MSFT).
The tech giant said it had filed lawsuits in Beijing Haidian People's Court against the developers of the counterfeit Ernie bot applications as well as Apple.
"At present, Ernie does not have any official app," Baidu said late Friday in a statement posted on its official "Baidu AI" WeChat account.
"Until our company's official announcement, any Ernie app you see from App Store or other stores are fake," it said.
The company also posted a photograph of its court filing.
Apple did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.
On Saturday, Reuters discovered at least four fake apps bearing the Chinese-language name of the Ernie bot in Apple's App Store.
The Ernie bot is only available to users who apply for and receive access codes. Baidu also warned against selling access codes in its statement.
BIDU shares down 1% in Monday's premarket hours.
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