[Opinion] Louis Vuitton trademark win over Molly Tea fuels backlash in China

Public debate over Louis Vuitton’s $1.5 million China win is a cautionary tale of litigation’s reputational risks

This week’s Opinion Column explores the public debate over Louis Vuitton’s win against a local tea brand, with experts warning that trademark disputes in China are increasingly being fought in the court of public opinion as well as the courtroom.

Louis Vuitton trademark win over Molly Tea fuels backlash in China

Molly Tea (茉莉奶白) has lost a trademark infringement lawsuit against Louis Vuitton: logo infringement, the bone of contention. But now the legal battle has ballooned. The Chinese web has been fired up with debate over intellectual property, cultural heritage and the ownership of traditional Chinese design.  Let’s wheel it back. This begins at a court in Suzhou – one that orders the premium tea brand to pay out RMB 10.3 million (US$1.5 million), ru…