Trademark Infringement and Unfair Competition Case Study: Toyota Motors vs. Zhejiang Geely

November 30, 2003 | BY

clpstaff &clp articles

The recent trademark case involving Toyota and a domestic auto manufacturer was widely seen as a test case of the strength of intellectual property law in China. Here one of the participants in the case gives an assessment of the court's decision.

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By Shi Yu-sheng, Partner, King & Wood, Beijing

"Toyota", as well as the logo associated therewith, is the trademark of the Toyota Motor Corporation, which was the plaintiff in this case. Undoubtedly, the Toyota trademark is an internationally recognized well-known trademark. In China, the plaintiff registered "Toyota", its Chinese equivalent, and the logo associated therewith, as trademarks in 1980, 1989 and 1990, respectively.