Background of the Pangdonglai Cases

As a regional retail giant, Pangdonglai is famous for its customer-first philosophy and generous employee benefits. However, its brand influence has also attracted numerous online rumors and infringements. For example, in March 2025, Pangdonglai filed a civil lawsuit over defamatory content regarding product quality published by a social media blogger. Other incidents included the "fading underwear incident" and accusations from influencer "Chai Duidui" alleging exorbitant profits on jade products. In all these cases, videos and articles shared online became the core evidence, making the preservation of their authenticity and immutability crucial.

Traditional evidence collection methods, such as notarization, are often costly and time-consuming, and ill-suited to the rapid spread of online information. The introduction of trusted timestamp technology offered Pangdonglai a low-cost and efficient alternative. In one 2025 case, Pangdonglai paid just 156.87 RMB for a timestamp service from United Trust to successfully preserve electronic evidence, greatly strengthening their litigation stance.

Case Study: Timestamp-Based Evidence Preservation

Case 1: Combating "Chai Duidui"'s Defamation

In April 2025, the influencer account "Chai Duidui" released short videos claiming Pangdonglai earned massive profits from low-cost jade, disparaging its product quality. Pangdonglai responded swiftly, and could use trusted timestamp technology to preserve the video as evidence. The process involves:

1. Evidence Collection: The legal team captured screenshots and screen recordings of the video, including its content, upload time, and platform.

2. Timestamp Certification: The data was encrypted and timestamped using United Trust’s trusted timestamp service, generating a certificate recording the hash value, timestamp, and certifying authority.

3. Evidence Submission: The preserved data was submitted to the court. According to Article 11 of the Supreme People's Court Provisions on Online Court Proceedings, electronically preserved evidence using trusted timestamps can be deemed admissible.

Case 2: “Fading Underwear” Incident

In February 2025, a blogger posted a video claiming a red pair of underwear purchased at Pangdonglai faded during use, sparking public concern. Pangdonglai promptly timestamped the video content and, following an internal investigation, issued a detailed public response. The timestamp confirmed the video’s release time and data integrity, revealing exaggerations in the blogger’s claims. Pangdonglai pursued legal accountability and restored public trust through a transparent handling process. The timestamp method significantly lowered evidence collection costs (only RMB 156.87, much lower than the traditional notarization fee) and ensured the legal validity of the evidence. The blogger was ordered to pay RMB 400,000 in compensation and to make a 30-day public apology.

Key Advantages of Timestamp-Based Evidence

The above cases highlight the key advantages of trusted timestamps:

1. Efficiency: Compared to notarization, which can cost thousands of RMB, timestamps cost as little as 100+ RMB and can be generated in minutes.

2. Reliability: Timestamps rely on encryption and trusted time sources (such as national time services), ensuring evidence integrity.

3. Legal Validity: China's Electronic Signature Law and related judicial interpretations recognize the evidentiary value of timestamps.

4. Versatility: Suitable for various formats such as webpages, videos, and images, timestamps are ideal for addressing the diversity of online infringement.

Introduction to Kangxin Trusted Timestamp Services

As a leading IP services provider in China, Kangxin offers widely applicable trusted timestamp services through its IP platform. These services are based on the national time service and integrate blockchain and hash verification technologies. Core features include:

- Time Certification: Syncs with the National Time Service Center to mark data with accurate timestamps, proving existence at a specific time.

- Data Integrity: Hash algorithms ensure any modification alters the data’s unique identifier, ensuring authenticity.

- Blockchain Storage: Timestamp certificates are stored on a blockchain, leveraging its distributed nature for tamper-proofing.

- User-Friendly Interface: The online platform enables quick uploads of electronic data and instant generation of timestamp certificates.

- Legal Compliance: Fully aligned with the Electronic Signature Law and Supreme Court guidelines, applicable in IP protection and commercial disputes.

Kangxin’s timestamp service has become the go-to evidence tool for enterprises like Pangdonglai, offering high efficiency, low cost, and strong legal standing. Compared to notarization, the cost is just one-tenth, and the streamlined workflow is better suited for the fast-paced digital world.

Lessons from Pangdonglai’s Experience

Pangdonglai's approach to online infringement offers valuable lessons:

- Speed Matters: Rapid evidence collection and timestamping is essential before data can be deleted or altered.

- Transparency Builds Trust: Public disclosure of investigative reports and timestamp procedures help earn public support.

- Tech-Law Synergy: Trusted timestamps reduce costs while improving judicial acceptance of evidence.

Conclusion

Pangdonglai’s use of trusted timestamps demonstrates the growing importance of digital evidence preservation. Kangxin’s timestamp service, with its efficiency, reliability, and compliance, provides businesses with a powerful legal tool. As online infringement grows more complex, timestamps will play a greater role in judicial practice. For companies, mastering advanced evidence techniques is essential for both protecting brand rights and thriving in the digital economy.