No lying down: Actor Ge You takes legal action against over 650 companies

An online video streaming service has apologized to actor Ge You for using his image without permission in 2016.

The video streaming platform Fun.tv, run by Beijing Funshion Online Technologies Co, used the image of Ge You lying on a couch in a scene from the 1993 TV series I Love My Family. The image, known as "lying down in Ge You style", became a popular internet meme in 2016 and is often used to express weariness or apathy.

Ge has been embroiled in legal battles over the unauthorized use of his image in the meme for the past six years. In March, Kunming Airlines apologized to Ge for using his photo in an article without permission.

As of Nov 23, Ge has initiated over 700 lawsuits related to copyright infringement caused by his image, with over 650 resulting in cases. He has won nearly all of these cases and has demanded a total of over 8 million yuan ($1.1 million) in compensation from the companies involved, according to corporate data provider Qichacha.

Ge's legal team has said that unauthorized commercial use of his image violates his portraiture rights.