Shareholders beware: you may be liable for brand hijacking

    By Irene Zeng and Eric Su, HFG
    0
    959
    LinkedIn
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Whatsapp
    Telegram
    Copy link

    In January 2007, Mr Gu registered a Hong Kong company, France Hennessy Wine (HK) Group Stock Limited (“HK Hennessy”), containing the “HENNESSY” trade name, for HK$10,000. On 15 February, Mr Gu registered and established Hangzhou Burgundy Wine Co Ltd (“Burgundy”) in Hangzhou, in which he held 90% of the shares and served as legal representative, and on the same day registered the domain name ‘www.xualnnishiwine.com’.

    On 16 February the same year, HK Hennessy authorised Burgundy to act as its marketing centre in the PRC, selling “HABSBURG” brand wines. The trademark used on said wine was very similar to the “hand with axe device” trademark registered by the plaintiff, Jas Hennessy & Co, and carried the words “Authorised by France Hennessy Wine (HK) Group Stock Limited”.

    Additionally, in its business activities and on its www.xuannishiwine.com website, it made frequent use of the Chinese version of the plaintiff’s “HENNESSY” trademark to promote “HABSBURG” wine. For this reason, in December 2007 the Hangzhou Municipal Administration for Industry and Commerce investigated Burgundy. In January 2009, the Hong Kong High Court rendered a judgment ordering HK Hennessy to cease using the word “HENNESSY” and its Chinese equivalent. In June 2009, the Shaoxing County Administration for Industry and Commerce investigated and dealt with a “HABSBURG” wine distributor, however the infringement is still continuing.

    You must be a subscribersubscribersubscribersubscriber to read this content, please subscribesubscribesubscribesubscribe today.

    For group subscribers, please click here to access.
    Interested in group subscription? Please contact us.

    你需要登录去解锁本文内容。欢迎注册账号。如果想阅读月刊所有文章,欢迎成为我们的订阅会员成为我们的订阅会员

    已有集团订阅,可点击此处继续浏览。
    如对集团订阅感兴趣,请联络我们

    Irene Zeng is a founding partner and Eric Su is a partner in the Shanghai office of HFG

    14/F, Hua Qi Building

    No. 969 Wuding Road, Shanghai

    Postal code: 200040

    Tel: +86 21 5213 5500

    Fax: +86 21 5213 0895

    www.hfgip.com

    E-mail:

    esu@hfgip.com

    izeng@hfgip.com

    LinkedIn
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Whatsapp
    Telegram
    Copy link