31 Million RMB Fine Shows Dual Enforcement Mechanisms for Chinese Trademark Infringement

Posted on Categories Case, Trademarks

Beijing Creative Mackey Plus Information Consulting Co., Ltd. (北京创意麦奇佳偶信息咨询有限公司, hereinafter Mackey English) sued the Beijing Chaoyang District Market Supervision Administration (北京市朝阳区市场监督管理局) in the Chaoyang District People’s Court of Beijing for imposing a 31 million RMB fine (~$4.38 million USD) for trademark infringement and the Beijing Market Supervision Administration   (北京市市场监督管理局) for affirming the fine after already paying damages for infringement in a civil trial.  Under the Chinese trademark law, trademark infringers can be subject to both civil liability and administrative penalty.

New Balance Scores Chinese Unfair Competition Victory Against New Barlun

Posted on Categories Case, Trademarks, Unfair Competition

On April 16, 2020, the Shanghai Pudong New District People’s Court ruled for New Balance Trading (China) Co., Ltd. (新百伦贸易(中国)有限公司, hereinafter New Balance) against Niu Ba Lun (China) Co., Ltd. (纽巴伦(中国)有限公司, hereinafter, New Barlun), awarding 10.8 million RMB (about $1.53 million USD) for unfair competition.

Michael Jordan Prevails in Eight-Year Trademark Battle at China’s Supreme People’s Court

Posted on Categories Case, Right of Publicity, Trademarks

In a long-running dispute with Qiaodan Sports Co., Ltd., Michael Jordan recently prevailed at China’s Supreme People’s Court in revoking a trademark for “Qiaodan and Device”  (Qiaodan is the transliteration of Jordan into Chinese).  The China National Intellectual Property Office (CNIPA) must now reexamine the trademark in light of the Court’s ruling.

Shanghai People’s Procuratorate Launches Criminal Prosecution of Lego Block Infringers

Posted on Categories Case, Copyright

On February 26, 2020, the Third Branch of the Shanghai People’s Procuratorate launched a criminal prosecution against Li Moumou (李某某) and nine others for copyright infringement of Lego toys. From September 11, 2017 to April 23, 2019, Li Moumou and others produced and sold 634 types of infringing products with a volume of 4.24 million boxes and generating revenue of more than 300 million yuan (about $42.6 million USD). On April 23, 2019, public security organs seized more than 600,000 …