"FUJI" Triggers the Trademark Slugfest

The case lodged by Guangzhou Panyu FUJI Elevator Engineering CO.,LTD (Panyu FUJI) and FUJI Elevator Holdings CO.,LTD (FUJI Holding) challenging Dongguan FUJI Elevator CO.,LTD (Dongguan FUJI), Huizhou FUJI Elevator CO.,LTD (Huizhou FUJI) for infringing their trademarks was heard at the second-instance trial by Poshan Intermediate People's Court recently.

Panyu FUJI applied for "FUJI富士", "富士" and "FUJI" as the registered trademarks, certified to be used on Class 7, the service of elevator in the year of 1997, 2001, 2003 respectively. FUJI Holding obtained the registration of the three trademarks from Panyu FUJI through assignment on January 2009.

The court entered into the first-instance judgment on the trademark dispute, ordering defendants Dongguan FUJI and Huizhou FUJI to cease infringement and indemnify 2 million yuan and 1.5 million yuan in damages respectively.

The disgruntled Dongguan FUJI and Huizhou FUJI then appealed to the Foshan Intermediate People's Court. By now, the court has not yet rendered a ruling.