China : Shanghai court awarded New Balance damages for over US$ 4 million in trademark infringement claims

03.01.2021

A Shanghai court has recently awarded New Balance damages for RMB 25 million, over US$ 4 million, which is the highest amount of damages ever awarded by the China courts in favour of a foreign brand for trademark infringement and unfair competition. This is good news to foreign trademark owners, and also a perfect timing in response to the US government under the new President that China is taking a more serious stance against intellectual property copycats.

In the past, China courts were not keen to award high amount of damages to foreign brands considering the adverse economic impact against the local enterprises. In reality, such behaviour to certain extent has encouraged more copycats for the attempting high illegal profits behind. Hopefully, this Shanghai court decision would control the situation turning worse.