Recently, French winemaker Chateau Lafite Rothschild won a court case in Shanghai, concerning trademark infringement of its signature Lafite brand. Originating from the Bordeaux region in France, the wine shot to fame in China due to its unique flavor, quickly growing in popularity and attracting a large price tag. Its producer, Chateau Lafite Rothschild, owned by Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), was granted the English trademark Lafite in China in 1997, one year after its filing. Yet the company didn't file a trademark application for Lafite's Chinese version with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce until almost a decade later. The delay sowed the seeds for future trademark disputes. Thus the court that using a similar mark violated the rights to the unregistered well-known trademark of Lafite's Chinese version. Given investment ties between the two defendants, and logistics and warehousing services provided to Mellowines, Shanghai Safe International Logistics was ruled liable for contributory infringement.

Source: China Daily