Judge Signals TikTok Will Face Jury Trial in Copyright Suit (1)

A federal judge indicated TikTok Inc. will face a jury trial in a lawsuit accusing the social media giant of copying video- and audio-editing technology, saying a Chinese software company’s behavior during discovery isn’t sufficient grounds to toss the entire case.

“I am not inclined to impose terminating or evidentiary sanctions,” Judge Susan Illston said Friday during a hearing in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. Plaintiff Beijing Meishe Network Technology Co. “behaved improperly at times,” she said, while also adding “I’m not so keen on the defendant’s behavior at some times.”

TikTok’s motion for sanctions ...