China Molly Tea’s US$1.5 million Louis Vuitton fine sparks fierce debate, customer support
Court cites ‘significant malicious intent’ in trademark ruling, noting Molly Tea ignored numerous rejected applications
After a Chinese milk tea brand was ordered by a Suzhou court to pay Louis Vuitton 10.3 million yuan (US$1.5 million) for trademark infringement, many internet users expressed their support for the mainland company, with some claiming they have lost their positive impression of the luxury brand following the case.
The news of the verdict, announced in early July, has been viewed 400 million times on Weibo, alongside a hashtag “Molly Tea lost the lawsuit but won the public’s heart,” which attracted more than 30 million views.
According to the Suzhou Intermediate People’s Court in eastern China’s Jiangsu province, the Shenzhen-based brand Molly Tea must pay the amount within 10 days for damages resulting from its logo, which closely resembles LV’s four-petalled floral monogram.
Molly Tea has announced its intention to appeal, as reported by Shandian News.
The court stated that LV’s monogram trademark enjoys a high level of global recognition and distinctiveness.
Since 2022, Molly Tea has submitted 17 trademark applications, including the disputed monogram pattern, to the China National Intellectual Property Administration, but all were rejected.