A taxi driver using the Didi Taxi app to locate his customer. [Photo: baidu]

A man from Shandong is due in court later today, in what is being hailed as landmark case involving the for-profit private drivers.

He's appealing a fine laid out by the Jinan public passenger transport administration.

The plaintiff is trying to fight the 20-thousand yuan fine issued to him.

He's arguing the operation of his vehicle, under a contract with Didi Taxi, is not illegal.

The argument is said to be the first against the Chinese government's ban on for-profit private vehicle use brought in at the beginning of this year.