Court to hear cosmetic trademark case

Shiseido, a Japanese cosmetic producer, filed its first lawsuit for intellectual property protection in the Chinese mainland, accusing a couple and their companies of infringing its trademark.

The Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate People's Court has accepted the case, the court said yesterday.

Shiseido is seeking 1.8 million yuan (US$257,143) in compensation and a public apology from Shanghai Jingdian Cosmetic Co Ltd, Shanghai Runmei Bio-tech Development Co Ltd, Shanghai Xiaoxian Meiye Bio-tech Co Ltd and their owners Li Wei and Ma Yan.

Shiseido said the defendants used the similar logo of "Shidoas" and the same Chinese words as its Chinese trademark on the packaging, in ads and on a Website.

Ma had also registered the Shiseido Artistry (France) International Group Co Ltd in Hong Kong and printed "authorized by Shiseido Artistry (France)" on their products.

The plaintiff said the logos would make people think the products had something to do with Shiseido and registration of the company name was unfair competition. Li said "Shidoas" wouldn't mislead customers as it was totally different from Shiseido.

He denied his companies used the same Chinese characters as Shiseido's Chinese trademark.

The Hong Kong company has been canceled and they had stopped using "authorized by Shiseido Artistry" on packaging.