Chinese Court Fines Molly Tea 50 Million for Louis Vuitton Trademark Infringement
A Chinese court ordered Molly Tea, a Shenzhen milk tea chain, to pay 50.7 million baht to Louis Vuitton for using a four-petal flower logo too similar to the fashion brand's trademark. The company must cease the infringement and issue a pub
A Chinese court in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, has ruled that Molly Tea, owner of a popular milk tea chain in Shenzhen with franchise locations in Wuhan's Wuchang district, infringed upon seven registered trademarks featuring a four-petal flower design belonging to Louis Vuitton, the world-leading French fashion brand. The Intermediate People's Court of Suzhou ordered Molly Tea to cease the infringement and pay 10.3 million yuan (approximately 50.7 million baht) to Louis Vuitton, and required the company to issue a public apology. According to reports from Nangfang Metropolis Daily in Guangzhou, the dispute involves the striking similarity between Molly Tea's four-petal flower symbol and Louis Vuitton's iconic monogram pattern. Louis Vuitton filed the lawsuit in May 2024, with the court issuing its judgment on June 29. However, Molly Tea announced plans to appeal the decision to a higher court. The case has sparked broad public discussion about intellectual property protection and the use of cultural elements in branding, with experts calling for a rational approach and emphasizing that trademark use should not infringe on previously registered marks.
