An internet-based court that runs 24/7 was set up in Beijing on September 9, 2018 where internet-related cases in the city will be tried via online video in the future. This court is the second internet-based court in China, and the first one was set up in Hangzhou.

Now, like convenience stores, courts will stay open perpetually and plaintiffs can file cases anytime.

The Beijing Internet Court has been given the jurisdiction to handle internet-related cases that should be tried by a primary-level people's court in Beijing regarding disputes with online shopping, service contracts, lending and copyrights. These cases are internet-based, the evidences thereof mainly arise from the internet, and thus they are suitable for online hearing which faciliates the lawsuits. If one of the involved parties refuses to the decision made by Beijing internet-based court, he may appeal to Beijing Intellectual Property court or Beijing Fourth Intermediate People's Court depending on whether the case involves intellectual property.

People can "file a case online instead of going to the court with paper-based material," Li Jingwei, deputy president of the court told the China Central Television (CCTV) on Sunday.

People involved in a lawsuit can also receive evidence material sent by the other party, Li added.

The appearance of such a court also indicates a new model of social governance system, Qin An, head of the Institute of the China Cyberspace Strategy told the Global Times on Sunday.

Citizens can log onto the litigation service platform to file cases or submit related material "at any time, without worrying about time," said She Guiqing, another deputy president of the Beijing Internet Court.