HONG KONG Chanel, Prada and three other luxury goods companies have won China's first copyright verdict against a shopping mall landlord, their lawyer said.
Beijing Xiushui Haosen Clothing Market, a landlord at the Silk Street shopping mall in Beijing, failed to stop vendors from selling goods known to have been pirated, according to a translation of a Dec. 19 verdict provided Wednesday by Joseph Simone, a partner at Baker & McKenzie in Hong Kong.
The court ordered the landlord and vendors to pay $13,000 in compensation to the plaintiffs, which included Burberry, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton and Gucci
Western Brands Win First Ever Piracy Suit in Beijing
Western Brands Win First Ever Piracy Suit In Beijing
Trend Themes
1. Luxury Copyright Protection - The successful copyright verdict against the shopping mall landlord highlights the growing trend of luxury brands taking legal action to protect their intellectual property in China.
2. Enforcement Against Counterfeits - As luxury brands win copyright cases, the trend of increased enforcement against vendors and landlords who sell pirated goods is disrupting the counterfeit market.
3. China's Changing IP Landscape - The landmark copyright verdict in Beijing signals a shift in China's intellectual property landscape, with potential opportunities for foreign businesses to protect their IP rights more effectively.
Industry Implications
1. Luxury Goods - The copyright verdict in favor of luxury brands underscores the need for the luxury goods industry to invest in copyright protection and anti-counterfeiting measures.
2. Legal Services - As luxury brands take legal action to protect their intellectual property, the legal services industry can seize the opportunity to provide expertise in copyright infringement cases.
3. Retail - The enforcement against counterfeit vendors by luxury brands requires landlords and retailers in the retail industry to put measures in place to prevent the sale of pirated goods within their premises.