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Honda sues Chinese motorcycle maker for logo piracy
By Elaine Kurtenbach / AP Business Writer
SHANGHAI, China -- Honda Motor Co. is suing China’s biggest private motorcycle maker, accusing it of pirating the Japanese company’s logo, a Shanghai court said Friday.
Honda is demanding more than 17 million yuan ($2 million) in compensation and legal fees from Chongqing Lifan Industry Group Co., which is based in the southern municipality of Chongqing, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.
It alleges that the “SOR” logo used by Lifan on its motorcycles looks too similar to an “SCR” logo registered by Honda as its trademark in 1999, Xinhua said in a report on its Web site.
Officials at the Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court contacted Friday confirmed the case was being heard there, but would not comment further.
Honda’s headquarters in Tokyo refused to comment while the trial was still underway, as did staff at Lifan’s offices in Chongqing.
The case comes as foreign automakers and other multinationals intensify their fight against patent and copyright infringements that they say are costing them billions of dollars in lost sales both inside and outside China.
The Xinhua report said that during a court hearing on Thursday, Honda presented as evidence two motor scooters made by Lifan and bought in Shanghai, both emblazoned with “SOR” logos in the same place that Honda puts its “SCR” logos.
Lifan denies copying Honda’s logo or products, the report said.
Another case between Honda and Lifan is pending in Beijing’s No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court. In that case, Honda said Lifan used the name “Hongda” on its products -- a name the Japanese automaker contends is too similar to its own. It is asking for more than 25 million yuan ($3 million) in compensation.
Other big automakers have also begun pursuing alleged infringements.
General Motors Corp. of the United States is investigating similarities between its GM Spark vehicle and the QQ mini-car produced by China’s SAIC-Chery Automobile Co., while Toyota Motor Co.p. is suing Chinese car maker Geely, accusing it of trademark piracy.
Despite its qualms over piracy issues, Honda has been boosting investment in China hoping to strengthen its 10 percent share in the highly competitive motorcycle market, which is forecast to turn out 12 million units this year.
Honda began making motorcycles in China in 1982. But like other Japanese motorcycle makers it has ceded much of the fast-growing market here and in Southeast Asia to a flood of Chinese competitors.
Chongqing Lifan, set up in 1992 by entrepreneur and former college professor Yin Mingshan, began exporting motorcycles to Japan in 2001 and holds a large share of the market in Vietnam. The company has also branched into home appliances, wine making, security doors and financial services. It also owns a soccer team, the Lifan Football Club.
By Elaine Kurtenbach / AP Business Writer
SHANGHAI, China -- Honda Motor Co. is suing China’s biggest private motorcycle maker, accusing it of pirating the Japanese company’s logo, a Shanghai court said Friday.
Honda is demanding more than 17 million yuan ($2 million) in compensation and legal fees from Chongqing Lifan Industry Group Co., which is based in the southern municipality of Chongqing, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.
It alleges that the “SOR” logo used by Lifan on its motorcycles looks too similar to an “SCR” logo registered by Honda as its trademark in 1999, Xinhua said in a report on its Web site.
Officials at the Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court contacted Friday confirmed the case was being heard there, but would not comment further.
Honda’s headquarters in Tokyo refused to comment while the trial was still underway, as did staff at Lifan’s offices in Chongqing.
The case comes as foreign automakers and other multinationals intensify their fight against patent and copyright infringements that they say are costing them billions of dollars in lost sales both inside and outside China.
The Xinhua report said that during a court hearing on Thursday, Honda presented as evidence two motor scooters made by Lifan and bought in Shanghai, both emblazoned with “SOR” logos in the same place that Honda puts its “SCR” logos.
Lifan denies copying Honda’s logo or products, the report said.
Another case between Honda and Lifan is pending in Beijing’s No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court. In that case, Honda said Lifan used the name “Hongda” on its products -- a name the Japanese automaker contends is too similar to its own. It is asking for more than 25 million yuan ($3 million) in compensation.
Other big automakers have also begun pursuing alleged infringements.
General Motors Corp. of the United States is investigating similarities between its GM Spark vehicle and the QQ mini-car produced by China’s SAIC-Chery Automobile Co., while Toyota Motor Co.p. is suing Chinese car maker Geely, accusing it of trademark piracy.
Despite its qualms over piracy issues, Honda has been boosting investment in China hoping to strengthen its 10 percent share in the highly competitive motorcycle market, which is forecast to turn out 12 million units this year.
Honda began making motorcycles in China in 1982. But like other Japanese motorcycle makers it has ceded much of the fast-growing market here and in Southeast Asia to a flood of Chinese competitors.
Chongqing Lifan, set up in 1992 by entrepreneur and former college professor Yin Mingshan, began exporting motorcycles to Japan in 2001 and holds a large share of the market in Vietnam. The company has also branched into home appliances, wine making, security doors and financial services. It also owns a soccer team, the Lifan Football Club.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english...ent_401235.htm
GM charges Chery for alleged mini car piracy
By Gong Zhengzheng (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-12-18 00:37
US auto giant General Motors (GM) filed a lawsuit against China's Chery Automobile Co for alleged piracy of a mini car developed by its South Korean affiliate Daewoo.
The lawsuit, launched in the name of GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co Ltd, contends Chery's QQ copied the design of Daewoo's Matiz while Chery claims it developed the QQ on its own.
GM's investigation results showed the two vehicles "shared remarkably identical body structure, exterior design, interior design and key components," GM China Group said in a statement on Thursday night.
GM's joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC) and Wuling Motor Corp in the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region began producing the Matiz under licence from Daewoo as the Chevrolet Spark at the end of last year.
Chery, a State-owned car producer formed in eastern Anhui Province, began making the QQ in 2002.
"The Chinese Government advised GM to resolve the issue through mediation or legal means," Ken Wong, general counsel of GM Daewoo, said in the statement.
"Despite our good faith efforts and the assistance of the Chinese Government in the past year, Chery has been non-responsive to mediation efforts, and has even stepped up efforts to export the vehicle to other markets," Wong said.
Chery's alleged infringement has also been impacting the 4,300 employees of the GM joint venture and nearly 100 dealers for their Spark model in China, said Tim Stratford, general counsel of GM China Group.
GM China Group said some 8,000 Sparks have been sold in China.
Sales of the QQ are much higher than that of the Spark because of its earlier launch and lower prices, but the Chery official declined to reveal specific figures.
However, an official from Chery defended the company's practice on Friday, saying: "We conduct product designs according to international rules."
"Chery is one of the key State-backed automakers with depends on itself for self development," the official told China Daily.
The GM lawsuit came after officials from the State Intellectual Property Office announced in September that Chery's alleged infringement does not exist according to evidence provided by GM, despite the QQ's similar appearance with the Spark.
Japan's Honda Motor sued Shuanghuan Automobile in northern Hebei Province for infringement starting in October.
Honda accused Shuanghuan's Laibao SRV of copying its CR-V sport utility vehicle, requiring a compensation of 100 million yuan (US$12.1 million).
The Japanese automaker began making the CR-V in April at its joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Corp in central Hubei Province.
Toyota Motor Corp filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Geely, the privately-owned compact car maker in eastern Zhejiang Province last year, but lost the case.
Analysts say more intellectual property disputes between domestic and foreign automakers will emerge as a result of Chinese firms' lack of strong development capabilities and the more profitable car market in China than in developed nations.
"Chinese automakers must enhance their independent development capabilities, instead of copying others. Otherwise, we will lag further behind foreign rivals," Jia Xinguang with the China Automotive Industry Consulting and Development Corp, said in an interview with China Daily.
Around 90 per cent of China's passenger car market is controlled by foreign brands.
Sales of China-made vehicles are forecast to exceed 5 million units this year, up from 4.4 million units last year.
By Gong Zhengzheng (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-12-18 00:37
US auto giant General Motors (GM) filed a lawsuit against China's Chery Automobile Co for alleged piracy of a mini car developed by its South Korean affiliate Daewoo.
The lawsuit, launched in the name of GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co Ltd, contends Chery's QQ copied the design of Daewoo's Matiz while Chery claims it developed the QQ on its own.
GM's investigation results showed the two vehicles "shared remarkably identical body structure, exterior design, interior design and key components," GM China Group said in a statement on Thursday night.
GM's joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC) and Wuling Motor Corp in the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region began producing the Matiz under licence from Daewoo as the Chevrolet Spark at the end of last year.
Chery, a State-owned car producer formed in eastern Anhui Province, began making the QQ in 2002.
"The Chinese Government advised GM to resolve the issue through mediation or legal means," Ken Wong, general counsel of GM Daewoo, said in the statement.
"Despite our good faith efforts and the assistance of the Chinese Government in the past year, Chery has been non-responsive to mediation efforts, and has even stepped up efforts to export the vehicle to other markets," Wong said.
Chery's alleged infringement has also been impacting the 4,300 employees of the GM joint venture and nearly 100 dealers for their Spark model in China, said Tim Stratford, general counsel of GM China Group.
GM China Group said some 8,000 Sparks have been sold in China.
Sales of the QQ are much higher than that of the Spark because of its earlier launch and lower prices, but the Chery official declined to reveal specific figures.
However, an official from Chery defended the company's practice on Friday, saying: "We conduct product designs according to international rules."
"Chery is one of the key State-backed automakers with depends on itself for self development," the official told China Daily.
The GM lawsuit came after officials from the State Intellectual Property Office announced in September that Chery's alleged infringement does not exist according to evidence provided by GM, despite the QQ's similar appearance with the Spark.
Japan's Honda Motor sued Shuanghuan Automobile in northern Hebei Province for infringement starting in October.
Honda accused Shuanghuan's Laibao SRV of copying its CR-V sport utility vehicle, requiring a compensation of 100 million yuan (US$12.1 million).
The Japanese automaker began making the CR-V in April at its joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Corp in central Hubei Province.
Toyota Motor Corp filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Geely, the privately-owned compact car maker in eastern Zhejiang Province last year, but lost the case.
Analysts say more intellectual property disputes between domestic and foreign automakers will emerge as a result of Chinese firms' lack of strong development capabilities and the more profitable car market in China than in developed nations.
"Chinese automakers must enhance their independent development capabilities, instead of copying others. Otherwise, we will lag further behind foreign rivals," Jia Xinguang with the China Automotive Industry Consulting and Development Corp, said in an interview with China Daily.
Around 90 per cent of China's passenger car market is controlled by foreign brands.
Sales of China-made vehicles are forecast to exceed 5 million units this year, up from 4.4 million units last year.
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