In a decision dated September 21, 2023 and only just released, China’s Supreme People’s Court (SPC) ruled for Château Lafite Rothschild upholding a judgement of 79.17 million RMB. The plaintiff in the first instance, Château Lafite Rothschild, believed that Golden Hope Company (南京金色希望酒业有限公司), Chateau Lafite Company (南京拉菲庄园酒业有限公司), Huaxia Company (南京华夏葡萄酿酒有限公司), Junteng Company (深圳市骏腾酒业有限公司), Perun Company (杭州佩伦贸易有限公司), Zui Niu Company (北京醉牛酒业有限公司), and Jiu Sheng Company (上海久圣酒类有限公司) used “LAFEI MANOR” and “拉菲庄园” to infringe on its trademark rights and damage the reputation …
Category: Trademarks
China Trademark Registrations Down 29% in 2023
According to recently released statistics from the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) Chinese trademark registrations were down 29% in 2023 versus 2022. That equates to a decrease of 1.7945 million trademark registrations year-on-year. Foreigners registered 3.1% of the trademarks up from 2.9% in 2022 but a decrease in absolute numbers of 40,696 registrations from 2022 for 134,776 registrations.
Chinese Utility Model Grants Down 25.5% in 2023, Invention Patent Grants Up 15.4% in Shift from Quantity to Quality
In China’s shift from quantity to quality, 25.5% fewer utility models were granted in 2023 versus 2022. Design patent grants were also down 11.5% according to a January 16, 2024 press conference held by the State Council Information Office. In contrast, invention patent grants were up 15.4%. Invention patent applications are substantively examined while utility models and designs only undergo a preliminary examination. 2024 may show a continuing downward trend for utility models as the amended Patent Examination Guidelines, effective …
4.5 Year Prison Sentence and 5.5 Million RMB Fine in China Disney Criminal Trademark Case
According to information released January 9, 2024 by the Shanghai Pudong Procuratorate (浦东检察 ), three criminal defendants were sentenced to up to 4.5 years in prison with a 5.5 million RMB fine for selling 830,000 pieces of counterfeit Disney clothing with a sales amount was more than 17 million RMB. This follows a previous criminal case in Shanghai for selling counterfeit Disney plush tolls and multiple Customs cases featuring counterfeit Disney products. The Shanghai Disneyland Resort is 57% owned by …