A Beijing court has ordered three Chinese companies to pay French clothing giant Lacoste a total of 760,000 yuan (99,000 dollars) in damages for trademark infringement, stat media said on Sunday.
The decision from the Beijing No 1 Intermediate People's Court follows a suit filed by La Chemise Lacoste against the three companies in July last year, the Xinhua news agency reported.
The court decided that one of the defendants, Guangzhou Taie Dress Co Ltd, had a registered "Golden Crocodile" trademark that consisted of a crocodile, waves and two Chinese characters, according to Xinhua. However, the company only used or highlighted the image of the crocodile, making it appear almost identical to Lacoste's logo, Xinhua reported, citing a spokesman for the court.
The court ordered Taie to stop producing and selling clothes with the crocodile logos and fined it 500,000 yuan, Xinhua said, citing the court's ruling. Beijing-based Nianniangao Garments Co Ltd, was fined 200,000 yuan, and Beijing Urban-Rural Trade Center Co Ltd 60,000 yuan for failing to confirm the legality of the trademarks on products they sold, according to Xinhua.
Flawed protection of intellectual property rights in China is a constant top concern among foreign companies, especially producers of luxury items whose main asset is the exclusivity of their brand.