Adidas Awarded 250,000 Yuan in Hunan

Hunan High People's Court made a final rule against an unfair competition case, awarding 250,000 Yuan in damages to the Germany-based Adidas-Salomon AG.

The plaintiff, Adidas-Salomon AG, is one of the world's leading sporting goods manufacturers. A party outside this civil proceeding with registered company name in the United State, USA Adidas International Group LLC, granted license to Shanghai Andao Sporting Goods and a third party Andao Shoes to use its trademark ACCEPTER. "Licensed by USA Adidas International Group LLC" was labeled on the tags of shoes and packages produced by the two companies.

Learning of this situation, Adidas-Salomon AG brought a lawsuit against the two companies, who appealed after Changsha Intermediate People's Court made a judgment. The High Court maintained that the two companies used the trademark Adidas without permission. Their intention is to take advantage of the reputation of Adidas and thus, unfair competition is constituted. So ordered.