Eachnet.com, billed as China's largest online auction service provider, said it's launching an investigation into the new online auction business provided by the portal website Netease.com which started this week, according to today's International Financial News.

"We may launch a lawsuit if the results of our probe indicate Netease is copying our service as in webpage design, service procedures and product classifications," said an Eachnet official who refused to identify himself.

According to its officials, Netease started the new auction service

a week ago, putting the link to this service on its homepage. The company had been keeping low with the new service, because it was in testing period.

Netease described the auction service a step forward of its strategic transfer program into the business-to-business services. The portal website hopes the services will attract more pageviewers.

Netease's new auction service came shortly after the conclusion last week of its one-and-a-half-year cooperation with Eachnet on its previous online auction service.

Netease invested US$500,000 to Eachnet in early 2001, and Eachnet arranged the online auction sector for Netease in return. The exchange program ended on July 5.