Castrol sues for trademark violation

Castrol Ltd is seeking 1 million yuan (US$146,413) from a private company owner for infringing its trademark and company name.

The producer of lubricating oil is also asking for a public apology and a promise of no more infringements by Yao Yuxin, a Zhejiang Province businessman, and his two companies - USA Jiashiduo Int'l Petroleum Group (Hong Kong) Ltd and Ningbo Yinzhou Jiashuai Lubricating Oil Factory.

Zhou Zhaohong, who runs a local moped repair workshop, is also listed as a defendant. Zhou is being sued for selling the product in question.

Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate People's Court heard the case yesterday with all the defendants absent.

No verdict was reached after the hearing.

Castrol said the name was recognized as a famous trademark in China by the market watchdog last year.