Lacoste Wins Lawsuit Over Crocodile Trademark in China
Apparel brand Cartelo has been ordered to pay $2 million USD.
Lacoste has won its trademark infringement lawsuit against Chinese brand Cartelo, WWD reported first. The French brand has established a reputation for protecting its trademark in China, having previously filed suits against department stores selling counterfeits.
Cartelo, which is owned by Nanji E-Commerce, sells apparel depicting a crocodile similar to Lacoste’s own. The main difference is that Lacoste’s crocodile is turned to the right, while Cartelo’s crocodile faces left.
The Beijing Higher People’s Court reportedly reached a judgment on the case earlier this year but the ruling wasn’t reported on until recently. Cartelo has been ordered to pay Lacoste $2.05 million USD in damages, as well as cease using the crocodile logo, according to WWD.
The Court found that Cartelo infringed on Lacoste’s rights over the logo trademark and caused confusion in the retail market.
In a statement provided to WWD, Lacoste said that the ruling “not only effectively protected the legitimate rights and interests of Lacoste but also demonstrated the firm determination of Chinese judicial authorities to protect intellectual property rights.”
The publication reported that despite the ruling, Cartelo is still selling crocodile-branded apparel in its stores.
