(Yicai) Aug. 30 -- Following reports that a Shanghai court had frozen some of Blizzard Entertainment's assets at the request of Chinese gaming giant NetEase, a source close to the US game developer said there has been no progress in the pair's software copyright licensing dispute since it began.

The case, which started in April last year, has not entered the substantive trial stage yet, with NetEase and Blizzard having no other legal disputes, the source told Yicai. The pair have been actively collaborating to bring more games into the Chinese market since rekindling ties this April, the person added.

Financial media outlet 21st Century Business Herald reported yesterday that the Pudong New Area People's Court had frozen Blizzard's assets worth around CNY139 million (USD19.6 million) at NetEase's request.

Blizzard pulled out of its 14-year partnership with NetEase in November 2022 due to a breakdown in renewal negotiations, rendering most of its highly popular games, including World of Warcraft, StarCraft, Hearthstone, and Overwatch, unavailable in the Chinese mainland and causing an outcry from the gaming community.

NetEase then filed a lawsuit against Blizzard, seeking compensation for refunds paid to players for shutting down the games and for advance payments made for several undeveloped games. The total amount claimed reached CNY300 million (USD42.2 million)

After NetEase and Bizzard began working together again, the suspended games gradually returned to the Chinese market. World of Warcraft was relaunched in China on Aug. 1, while its new expansion, The War Within, was released on Aug. 27.

Blizzard also returned to ChinaJoy, a digital entertainment expo held in Shanghai last month. World of Warcraft's Executive Producer Holly Longdale and Game Director Ion Hazzikostas attended the event, highlighting their commitment to re-entering the Chinese market.

Editors: Dou Shicong, Martin Kadiev