U.S.-based sports equipment company prevails in trademark infringement case before Beijing High Court

Client(s) U.S. based multinational sports equipment company

Jones Day won a landmark case at Beijing High Court on behalf of a U.S.-based multinational sports equipment company regarding the squatting of their trademark, an infringement that threatened the company's expansion into China.

Prior to our representation, our client had lost three actions regarding this issue due to the technicality of procedural issues. We convinced the High Court that despite the procedural irregularities, the court should focus on the only substantive issue which was bad faith squatting.

The High Court agreed with our argument and ruled in favor of the client. The High Court also noted that Chinese trademark authorities should change their administrative rules so that they do not obstruct the review of substantive issues.