China's JD.com sues Alibaba's Tmall over unfair competition

A delivery agent rides past the headquarters of e-commerce company JD.com Inc in Beijing. [Photo/China Daily]

BEIJING - A court in Beijing said on Friday that it had accepted an unfair competition lawsuit lodged by China's e-commerce company JD.com against Tmall.com, which is under Alibaba.

According to Haidian District people's court, JD.com accused Tmall.com of exaggeration on some outdoor and newspaper adverts in September that promised same-day delivery in Beijing.

Actually, only residents in certain parts of the city are able to enjoy the service, and only on items ordered before a certain time of the day. Many people still have to wait until the next day to get their packages, said JD.com.

JD.com, which is well known for its swift delivery, said the deceptive ads were unfair, and could harm both the credibility and economic interests of JD.com.

JD.com asked the defendant to stop posting the ads and release a statement admitting they had bene deceptive.

Alibaba has not made any comment on the issue so far.