Chinese tea chain ordered to pay $1.5 million after court finds logo infringes Louis Vuitton trademark
A Suzhou court ruled that Molly Tea's four-petal flower logo violated Louis Vuitton's monogram trademark, ordering the Chinese company to pay 10.3 million yuan, sparking debate over the ownership of traditional Chinese motifs.
A court in Suzhou has ordered Molly Tea, a Chinese tea chain, to pay 10.3 million yuan ($1.5 million) to luxury brand Louis Vuitton after finding the chain's four-petal flower logo infringed the French company's trademark monogram. The ruling, reported by local media, adds to a series of intellectual-property disputes between Western and Chinese firms.
State-run outlets in China have highlighted the case as an example of perceived gaps in protecting ancient Chinese cultural symbols. Beijing Daily questioned why a Chinese enterprise had to compensate a foreign company for a design it said resonated with centuries-old patterns, while the Global Times noted public criticism of Louis Vuitton for allegedly seeking control over traditional motifs.
Louis Vuitton, which celebrated the 130th anniversary of its monogram designed in 1896, describes the pattern as a “universal symbol of creativity” inspired by neo-gothic ornamentation and Japonism, according to its parent company LVMH. Molly Tea, founded in 2021, continues to display its four-petal flower logo on its website and has indicated plans to appeal the decision.
"Why did a Chinese enterprise end up paying more than 10 million yuan in damages to a French company for using a design that resonated with the spirit of China’s centuries-old patterns?" – Beijing Daily on Weibo
"Chinese netizens accuse LV of attempting to monopolize ancient motifs after lawsuit against tea brand" – Global Times headline
