With the award of another landmark ruling in the Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court of China, Rotork has again successfully defended its internationally recognised trademarks. In the latest judgment, Shanghai Rotork Automation Instrumentation Co. Ltd. and Rotork Actuator Co. Ltd. (based in Zhejiang) were found to have infringed Rotork’s English and Chinese trademarks by using the name Rotork either in English or Chinese on products and in advertising for goods, not covered by their China registered trademark, in so doing creating a misleading and undesirable influence in the market for Rotork’s electric actuator products.
In addition to ceasing these activities, the defendants were ordered to pay a total of RMB 2M in damages, which is four times the maximum statutory damages figure. The defendants were also ordered to publish a declaration in the international valve industry magazine Valve World to eliminate the undesirable influence created by their infringements. The defendants have lodged an appeal against the judgment to the Shanghai Higher People’s Court, pending the outcome of which the lower court’s judgment is stayed. Rotork is confident of its position on appeal.
This is the third successful judgment for Rotork in relation to its proprietary rights in China. In 2009, Rotork successfully defended its internationally recognised trademark and copyright in the Shanghai Courts against infringements by Autork Digital Instrument Co. Ltd. (also known as Greatork). The Shanghai Intermediate People’s Court and Higher People’s Court also found Autork to have been engaging in unfair competition through the use of false publicity.
In addition to ceasing these activities, the defendants were ordered to pay a total of RMB 2M in damages, which is four times the maximum statutory damages figure. The defendants were also ordered to publish a declaration in the international valve industry magazine Valve World to eliminate the undesirable influence created by their infringements. The defendants have lodged an appeal against the judgment to the Shanghai Higher People’s Court, pending the outcome of which the lower court’s judgment is stayed. Rotork is confident of its position on appeal.
This is the third successful judgment for Rotork in relation to its proprietary rights in China. In 2009, Rotork successfully defended its internationally recognised trademark and copyright in the Shanghai Courts against infringements by Autork Digital Instrument Co. Ltd. (also known as Greatork). The Shanghai Intermediate People’s Court and Higher People’s Court also found Autork to have been engaging in unfair competition through the use of false publicity.
