A dispute between two researchers has received much attention recently as both considered filing lawsuits over similar economic theories.

In a news conference held on Wednesday, Cai Jiming, a renowned professor at Tsinghua University, dismissed a plagiarism claim from researcher Li Dewei from the State Administration of Industry and Commerce.

Cai said both had proposed ideas on the theory of income distribution since the 1980s, but their content was different.

The dispute started in 2011 when Li filed a complaint with Tsinghua accusing Cai of plagiarizing his ideas.

Li said on Wednesday that he will file a lawsuit against Cai in a Beijing court.

Li also questioned the different results of two appraisal reports over Cai's theory from Tsinghua University.