When the judge hammer down, a trademark dispute between Audi and Zhonghan Fangsheng company, a Beijing based automobile maintenance company, come to a temporary end. Zhonghan Fangsheng has violated the right of Audi’s trademark and compensated Audi 805,000 yuan for economic loss.

Dating back to 2015, Audi discovered that Zhonghan Fangsheng (other used name Chengcheng Zhong’ao automobile company) had used Audi’s registered trademarks, such as 奥 迪, Audi and four- ring figure, for company decoration, promoting materials and staff business cards. Audi held that what Zhonghan Fangshen did had violated their trademark rights, then brought this case to the court, required stopping infringement and seek 1.2191 million yuan for remedy.

The court confirmed that Zhonghan Fangsheng had used Audi’s registered 奥迪，Audi and Four-ring figure trademarks for company decoration, promoting, what Zhonghan Fangsheng did had been beyond fair use of others’registered trademarks, this could easily cause confusion among the public. Meanwhile, the auto filters Zhonghan Fangsheng sold have been printed with Audi’s trademarks, which failed to demonstrate these products were legally acquired. These products were finally identified as counterfeits.

Based on these, the court made the decision above.

(by Feng Fei /Liu Yeting)

(Source: CHINA REPORT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY)