The photo in which Ge You does "the Beijing slouch" has been edited by netizens in different ways. [Photo/Legal Evening News]

After a complaint by the actor, eLong deleted the photos in August 2016 and issued an open letter of apology in December of the same year.

Ge believed the apology was another form of commercial promotion, and filed a lawsuit against the company at the Haidian District People's Court.

In the first instance, the Haidian court ruled that eLong must pay compensation of 75,000 yuan ($11,842) and apologize to Ge for infringement of image rights.

The municipal court accepted eLong's appeal in January, but ultimately backed the Haidian court ruling.

Ge You is a household name in China. His films include "If you are the one," "Sacrifice" and "Be there or be square."