Fiat's copycat suit rejected
The Shijiazhuang Intermediate People's Court recently rejected Fiat's lawsuit against Great Wall Motor for patent infringement and Fiat has to pay a court fee of 8,800 yuan.
Fiat Auto filed lawsuits against Great Wall Motor for patent infringement in both China and Italy claiming that Great Wall's Peri model was a copy of Fiat's Panda. On July 16, the Turin Court, in Italy, ruled that the promotion, importation and sale of the Peri was forbidden in the EU and Great Wall Motor was fined 15,000 euros for importing the car.
According to the Shijiazhuang Intermediate People's Court, the designs of the Panda and Peri are "clearly different", particularly the front and rear parts of the vehicles. The court concluded that consumers would not be confused between the two.
(Source: China Daily)
AFD China Newsletter is intended to provide our clients and friends information only. It should not constitute legal advice of AFD China or any of its attorneys, and AFD China will not be held responsible for any reliance on its contents.
|
