KENWOOD Wins a Lawsuit Against Trademark Infringement in China

KENWOOD Corporation (KENWOOD), an operating company in the JVC KENWOOD Group, hereby announces that a final verdict in favor of KENWOOD was issued by the Shunde District People’s Court in Foshan City, Guangdong Province. The verdict came in a lawsuit against Fujian Top Way Intelligent Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (hereafter, “Top Way Intelligent Co.”) and Daliang Gold Coast Trading Co., Ltd. (hereafter, “Gold Coast Trading Co.”) in the Shunde District of Foshan City. The lawsuit related to an infringement of the “KENWOOD” trademark.

In December 2009, KENWOOD determined that the “KENWEI” logo placed on the interphone products manufactured by Top Way Intelligent Co. and sold by Gold Coast Trading Co. had infringed KENWOOD’s trademark right by copying the design of KENWOOD’s “KENWOOD” logo. KENWOOD submitted a petition to the Shunde District People’s Court in Foshan City demanding that Top Way Intelligent Co. stop using the “KENWEI” logo. In addition, it demanded that Top Way Intelligent Co. pay compensation in the amount of 500,000 yuan (equivalent to approximately 6.24 million yen*). Moreover, the petition demanded that Gold Coast Trading Co. stop selling copycat products that infringe the “KENWOOD” logo trademark.

Subsequently in September 2010, the trial court came down in favor of KENWOOD, ordering Top Way Intelligent Co. to immediately stop using the “KENWEI” logo on interphone products manufactured and sold, and pay KENWOOD 300,000 yuan (equivalent to roughly 3.74 million yen*). The trial court also ordered Gold Coast Trading Co. to immediately stop selling interphone products with the “KENWEI” logo.

Gold Coast Trading Co. did not appeal and the trial was completed with that company. Meanwhile, the Foshan City Intermediate People’s Court continued to examine the case based on the appeal made by Top Way Intelligent Co. This court recently issued its judgment “affirming the trial court ruling”. Hence, the lawsuit was concluded with the final ruling in favor of KENWOOD.

KENWOOD has long been taking a firm stance against parties that infringe the patents of KENWOOD products by identifying them and taking legal action. We will retain our basic stance of protecting consumers and the rights and interests of JVC KENWOOD Group throughout the world by more strongly promoting activities to confront and eliminate infringement of intellectual property rights and other illicit acts.

* Converted at the rate of 1 yuan = 12.47 yen.