Ms. Shumin He and Ms. Haiyu Li
Chofn has just achieved another significant success in representing a renowned UK-based yoga mat design company (the "Plaintiff") in a lawsuit against a local yoga mat manufacturer and its affiliated sales entity (the "Defendants") for copyright infringement. Leveraging a solid evidentiary chain and precise legal strategy, Chofn lawyers engaged in strategic negotiations with the Defendants which lasted around 17 months, ultimately securing substantial economic compensation of CNY500,000 for the Plaintiff. This outcome has substantially defended the Plaintiff's original design and commercial interests.
Background: Original Design Faces "Knock-off" Challenge
The Plaintiff is a renowned UK yoga products company, celebrated globally for its unique, innovative, and artistically inspired yoga mat designs. The Plaintiff's products are not only functional sports equipment but also fashion items for yoga enthusiasts to express their individuality.
However, after entering the Chinese market, the Plaintiff discovered that the designs of their core best-selling products had been blatantly imitated and copied by a number of local enterprises, including the Defendants. The infringing products were very similar to the Plaintiff's designs in pattern and overall visual appearance, easily causing confusion and misidentification among consumers in the market and damaging the Plaintiff's brand value and market share.
Our Strategy: Primed with Evidence, Multiple Strategies Deployed
Chofn lawyers promptly formulated a comprehensive action plan: prioritizing evidence while pursuing both negotiation and litigation.
1. Solid Evidence Collection: Chofn lawyers first conducted meticulous notarized purchases of the infringing products. Simultaneously, the team systematically organized the Plaintiff's copyright registration documents, product release timelines, marketing materials, etc., constructing a complete and irrefutable evidentiary chain establishing the Plaintiff's copyright ownership and the fact of the Defendants’ infringing acts.
2. Precise Legal Analysis: Chofn lawyers analyzed the relevant laws and regulations, and conducted in-depth research on supportive precedents. After precisely identifying the legal nature of the infringing acts, Chofn lawyers raised the claims before court that the Defendants' conduct not only constituted infringement of the Plaintiff's copyright on work of fine art but also represented a typical act of "free-riding" unfair competition.
3. Pressure-Driven Negotiation: After initiating litigation proceedings, Chofn lawyers engaged in multiple rounds of strategic negotiations with the Defendants. Backed by solid evidence, Chofn lawyers clearly articulated the legal consequences of infringement to the Defendants, including but not limited to cessation of infringement, public apology, and substantial economic compensation. Faced with the Plaintiff's obvious advantage in evidence and law, as well as the ongoing litigation proceedings, the Defendants' position gradually weakened over more than a year of back-and-forth, eventually shifting from passive denial to acknowledgment of its infringing acts.
Case Outcome: Substantial Damages Upholding Justice
Through the persistent efforts of the Plaintiff and Chofn lawyers, the parties reached a settlement agreement, confirmed by a paper of civil mediation issued by the court. The Defendants agreed to immediately cease the production and sale of all infringing products and made a one-time payment of CNY500,000 to the Plaintiff as economic compensation. This compensation amount ranks among the higher levels in copyright infringement cases involving similar product designs in China. It not only effectively compensates for the Plaintiff's economic losses but also fully affirms the value of its original design, serving as a strong deterrent to potential copycats.
The victory in this case is not only a triumph for the Plaintiff but also a powerful testament to the continuous optimization of China's IP protection environment. Chofn will continue to leverage its professional strengths to safeguard the rights and interests of more IP right holders, and help them to effectively transform IP achievements into tangible commercial value.
