UK Client v. Chinese Company-Trademark Infringement Dispute
The UK company, owner of an internationally recognized apparel brand with registered trademark rights in China, discovered in early 2024 that a Chinese company was selling clothes bearing a mark substantially similar to its registered trademark through online and offline channels.They obtained evidence through notarization to fix the links of infringing goods, sales data and physical samples.By professional appraisal， the defendant’s mark contained minor stylistic alterations, its overall visual impression created a substantial likelihood of consumer confusion, exploiting the reputation of the well-known trademark.
Following unsuccessful demands to cease infringement and negotiate compensation, the UK company filed a lawsuit against the Chinese company in the China Intellectual Property Court with the help of a term of Chinese lawyers. The claim alleged infringement of exclusive trademark rights and unfair competition, supported by registration certificates, notarized infringement records, expert reports analyzing mark similarity, and sales data demonstrating the scale of infringing activities. The UK company sought cessation of infringing acts, destruction of infringing inventory, and compensatory damages，but the Chinese company refused.
The court ruled that the defendant’s conduct constituted both trademark infringement and unfair competition. Key considerations included the plaintiff’s market reputation, the defendant’s intentional adoption of a confusingly similar mark, and the scale of infringing sales. The plaintiff's claim for compensation was partially supported by the court. in economic losses and reasonable litigation expenses, remove all infringing goods from the market, and destroy remaining inventory under judicial supervision.