Fenbi demands compensation after Chaoge admits copyright infringement in exam prep market
On September 22, Chaoge Education founder Kong Chao publicly apologized for using Fenbi's mock exam questions without authorization in course materials. Fenbi accepted the apology but demanded a specific compensation amount, pledging to use any payment to produce discounted mock exams for students. The dispute began September 16 when Fenbi published over a dozen critical "short essays." Fenbi's stock rose temporarily but the company faces financial pressure, reporting a net loss of 184 million yuan in first half of 2026.
IllustrationEditorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Reports are grouped by semantic similarity and deterministic rules. Language models may assist titles, summaries, translation and cross-source analysis; the page reads the event directly, while its address stays stable when the title changes.
- Summary covers the current reports
Cross-source coverage
Common ground
- Both Fenbi and Chaoge are using the plagiarism dispute as a distraction from their own financial struggles and a shrinking market.
- The real disruption to the exam prep industry is the rise of free or low-cost content on platforms like Bilibili and Douyin, which is making expensive courses less relevant.
- Chaoge’s apology and compensation plan were effective in the short term, as their user retention improved, while Fenbi’s aggressive PR campaign backfired.
- Students are increasingly rejecting the idea that they need to pay for access to exam prep secrets, and are building their own learning networks.
Points of contention
- Whether this dispute is a healthy example of market self-regulation or a messy PR stunt that distracts from deeper problems.
- Whether Fenbi is a predator using its platform to crush a smaller rival, or both companies are equally struggling in a price war.
- Whether the commercialization of exam prep is a Western import or a natural evolution of China’s own meritocratic tradition.
- Whether the rise of free content is a genuine disruption or just a symbiotic evolution built on the paid ecosystem’s investments.
Blind spots
- All sides overlooked that Chaoge’s apology actually worked better than Fenbi’s aggression, showing consumers care more about humility than IP rights.
- The debate missed how the civil service exam itself is being questioned as youth unemployment rises and the promise of stable government jobs fades.
- No one fully addressed the structural decline in Fenbi’s business, with a 16% revenue drop and a cash burn rate that gives them only 18 months of runway.
- The discussion ignored that the free content ecosystem on Bilibili is largely independent, not just a spin-off from paid companies.
WorldAttention’s read
This dispute is not really about copyright or ethics—it’s a desperate fight between two companies trying to survive as their expensive course model becomes obsolete. Students are voting with their feet, turning to free content and community networks that make thousand-yuan courses look unnecessary. Chaoge’s apology worked because it showed humility, while Fenbi’s aggressive PR backfired. But neither company has answered the core question: why pay for secrets when the knowledge is already free? The real story is that a generation of learners is quietly building its own path, and the exam prep industry’s old value proposition is dying.
Reporting timeline
Fenbi and ChaoGe Engage in Public Feud Over Copyright Infringement in China's Civil Service Exam Market
Fenbi, a Hong Kong-listed online education company, and rival ChaoGe have been engaged in a public dispute over copyright infringement in China's civil service exam training market. The conflict began on September 16 when Fenbi published a series of over ten 'short essays' criticizing ChaoGe for allegedly copying its exam questions. On September 22, ChaoGe founder Kong Chao issued a public apology, admitting to using Fenbi's mock exam questions in its course materials without authorization. Fenbi accepted the apology but demanded compensation, stating it would use the funds to create discounted mock exams for students. The public feud has generated significant attention and temporarily boosted Fenbi's stock price, which rose on multiple days in September. However, Fenbi faces substantial financial pressure, reporting a net loss of 184 million yuan in the first half of 2026, a sharp reversal from profitability the previous year. The company has also undergone management changes, with founder Zhang Xiaolong resigning in July after a controversial speech.
Read sourceFenbi and Chaoge Engage in Public Feud Over Copyright Infringement in China's Exam Prep Market
Chinese online exam preparation company Fenbi and rival Chaoge Education have been engaged in a public dispute over copyright infringement, with Fenbi publishing over a dozen 'short essays' between September 16 and 22. The conflict began when Fenbi accused Chaoge of using its test questions without permission. Chaoge founder Kong Chao issued a public apology on September 22, acknowledging the infringement and offering compensation measures. Fenbi accepted the apology but demanded a financial penalty, which it plans to use for discounted test materials. The public feud generated significant traffic for Fenbi and temporarily boosted its stock price, which rose 10.53% on September 17 and continued to climb on subsequent days. However, Fenbi faces serious financial pressures, reporting a 16.33% revenue decline to 12.48 billion yuan and a net loss of 1.84 billion yuan in the first half of 2026, following a period of profitability in 2023. The company recently underwent management changes after founder Zhang Xiaolong resigned following controversial remarks.
Chaoge Gongkao Apologizes for Copyright Infringement; Fenbi Demands Compensation Amount
On September 22, Kong Chao, founder of Chaoge Education, issued a public apology on behalf of Chaoge Gongkao for copyright infringement against Fenbi Gongkao. According to the apology, in early 2026, Chaoge Gongkao added a 'Shizhan Tong' (Practical Bucket) course to its offerings, and instructors, drawing on past teaching experience, used some Fenbi mock exam questions in course materials without authorization. Chaoge acknowledged management failures and announced corrective measures including removing the 680-yuan 'Shizhan Tong' course and related products from sale, refunding fees for certain materials, and reducing fees for other products. Chaoge stated it respects Fenbi's legal rights and will comply with any court-ordered compensation. In response, Fenbi's official Weibo account accepted the apology but noted that Chaoge had used Fenbi's questions extensively over a long period for profitable course sales. Fenbi demanded Chaoge specify a compensation amount, and pledged that whatever amount is paid, Fenbi will use it to produce mock exam papers sold at 1 yuan each with free shipping as a benefit to students.
Read sourceShow 2 older updatesHide older updates
Chaoge Gongkao Apologizes for Copyright Infringement; Fenbi Responds Seeking Compensation Amount
On September 22, Kong Chao, founder of Chaoge Education, published an apology letter on behalf of Chaoge Gongkao, admitting that the company had infringed on Fenbi Gongkao's copyright by using Fenbi's mock exam questions in course materials for its new 'Shizhan Tong' (Practical Bucket) course. Chaoge stated it has launched a full rectification, removed the infringing products, and offered compensation plans including refunds and fee reductions for affected students. The company said it respects Fenbi's legal rights and will comply with any court judgment. In response, Fenbi Gongkao's official Weibo account accepted the apology but noted that Chaoge had used a large volume of Fenbi's questions over a long period, generating significant profits. Fenbi demanded a specific compensation amount and announced that whatever sum Chaoge pays, Fenbi will use it to print mock exam papers sold at 1 yuan each as a benefit to students.
Read sourceChaoge Education Apologizes for Copying Fenbi Exam Questions; Fenbi Demands Compensation
On September 22, 2024, Chaoge Education founder Kong Chao issued a public apology for using Fenbi mock exam questions in Chaoge's 'Essence Lecture Bucket' course materials. Fenbi responded by accepting the apology but demanding a specific compensation amount, pledging to use any payment to produce discounted mock exams for public sale. This incident follows a week of public sparring between the two major Chinese civil service exam training firms. On September 16, Fenbi launched a price war by mimicking Chaoge's popular National Day course, reducing its price from 2,180 yuan to as low as 1,180 yuan. Fenbi subsequently published cost breakdowns and profit estimates for Chaoge's course, accusing Chaoge of falsely claiming it was unprofitable. The rivalry reflects broader industry pressures, as Fenbi reported a net loss of 184 million yuan for the first half of fiscal 2026, contrasting with a 227 million yuan profit a year earlier. Fenbi's recent financial struggles and leadership changes, including the resignation of founder Zhang Xiaolong in July, have been accompanied by a series of candid public letters acknowledging past strategic missteps.