Shanghai No.1 Intermediate People's Court entered the first-instance judgment on trademark infringement of LV, ordering defendants, a couple with the names of Lin Yizhong and Wu Beiwen and their Zhong Wen Trading Company to cease infringement and pay LV 500,000 yuan.

The plaintiff filed a case with the court this January, asserting Lin and Wu's distribution of counterfeit LV or Louis Vuitton bags since 2000 as caught by Shanghai Police and AIC and seeking an injunction and 1 million yuan in damages.  The defendants contended that the couple as private persons shall not assume damage liability of the company for the company is legally founded and they are acting for the company.  The court held the defendants were sanctioned either administratively or criminally for their acts of distributing counterfeit goods.  Infringement of the plaintiff's registered trademarks by the three defendants is constituted.  They shall assume according civil liability.  In parallel, where two or more people injuries other through joint infringement, these people shall assume liability.  The court then ordered 500,000 in damages and reasonable costs.

(China IP News)