According to a report in China’s IPR Daily, on May 27, 2021, the Beijing Intellectual Property Court affirmed Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) win against Landwind (陆风) for unfair competition relating to the Landwind X7, a vehicle that looks remarkably similar to the JLR Evoque. Landwind must issue an apology, pay compensation and cease infringing. Earlier, JLR successfully invalidated Landwind’s design patent for the X7. However, JLR failed in its claim for copyright infringement on appeal.
Category: Unfair Competition
L’Occitane’s 9 Million RMB Award for Trademark Infringement in China Affirmed on Appeal
On June 7, 2021, the Zhejiang Higher People’s Court announced it has affirmed an award of 9 Million RMB ($1.4 Million USD) and an injunction to L’Occitane for trademark infringement and unfair competition. L’Occitane had earlier sued Zhejiang Junda Biotechnology Development Co., Ltd. (浙江君大生物科技发展有限公司) and Guangzhou Ailian Cosmetics Co., Ltd. (广州市爱莲化妆品有限公司) for the sale of Andorheal Fragrance Body Lotion in a bottle similar to L’Occitane’s Cherry Blossom Shimmered Lotion as well as the use of L’Occitane’s cherry blossom trademark.
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation Releases 2021 Legislative Work Plan
On April 1, 2021, China State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) released the 2021 legislative work plan (国家市场监督管理总局2021年立法工作计划), with 8 of the 61 matters related to intellectual property law. The 8 cover patent, trademark and trade secret matters including laws and administrative regulations and departmental rules.
China’s Supreme People’s Court Releases Guidelines for Enforcement of Intellectual Property Judgments
On December 10, 2020, China’s Supreme People’s Court released “Guidelines for Enforcement of Intellectual Property Judgments” (知识产权判决执行工作指南). The Guidelines have 29 Articles that cover the types of cases the Guidelines cover; enforcement of civil intellectual property cases; enforcement of intellectual property administrative cases; and enforcement of criminal intellectual property cases.