Guangzhou firms pay 200,000 yuan for trademark violation

Eleven cases involving violation of copyright or trademark rights were adjudicated on by the People’s Court of Yuexiu District in Guangzhou, the Guangdong provincial capital, on Thursday, a day before World Intellectual Property Day.

Among the cases, a trading company and a shoe company, both based in Guangzhou and with the same shareholder, were sentenced to jointly pay 200,000 yuan ($32,394) in compensation to US company River Light V, L.P., owner of part of the usage in China of the trademark of fashion brand TORY BURCH.

The two Guangzhou-based firms, Guangzhou Tory Burch Trade Co Ltd and Guangzhou Binni’er Shoe Co Ltd, sold shoes with the TORY BURCH trademark on them without asking for RIVER LIGHT V, L.P.’s permission.

According to the court, the number of cases concerning intellectual property filed to it has seen a sharp rise in the past three years, with a year-on-year increase of 54.07 percent last year.

The court has received more lawsuits from domestic brands to protect their intellectual property than previously. The number of cases concerning violation of intellectual property in online information communication has also increased.