A Chinese court ruled that the bubble tea chain Molly Tea infringed Louis Vuitton’s four‑petal flower trademark and ordered it to pay $1.5 million in damages. The decision signals a tougher stance on trademark enforcement in China, potentially increasing legal costs for domestic brands that imitate foreign luxury designs and reinforcing the protection of high‑value IP holders. Molly Tea (China), Louis Vuitton (France/LVMH), and the Chinese court that issued the ruling. Molly Tea may appeal the judgment; other Chinese food‑and‑beverage firms are likely to audit their branding; Louis Vuitton could pursue additional injunctions or seek similar rulings against other infringers. A Chinese court found that the bubble tea chain Molly Tea had copied Louis Vuitton’s four‑petal flower logo and sentenced it to pay $1.5 million in damages. The ruling highlights how Chinese judges are increasingly willing to enforce foreign luxury brands’ trademark rights, even against small food‑and‑beverage operators. The decision provoked online criticism, with some users arguing the penalty is disproportionate for a beverage shop.
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