The Comité Champagne has secured a significant legal triumph in Beijing’s high court, becoming the first foreign appellation to be granted "well-known trademark" status in China.
On November 30, 2023, the Beijing High Court ruled in favor of Comité Champagne in a lawsuit against a Chinese manufacturer and distributor of perfumes sold under the name "Champagne Life." The court ordered the cessation of all manufacture, sale, and distribution of the perfumes and awarded Comité Champagne nearly EUR 30,000 in damages.
In addition to this ruling, the Beijing High Court granted Champagne "well-known trademark" status in China. This prestigious designation provides extensive protection against any unauthorized use of the name Champagne, including in Chinese characters, for any product.
Charles Goemaere, managing director of Comité Champagne, hailed the decision as a monumental step forward for protecting the Champagne appellation in China. "Beyond the conviction, this decision proves to be a huge step forward for the protection of the Champagne appellation in China," he stated.
Champagne is the first foreign appellation to achieve this recognition. Prior to this ruling, Champagne had enjoyed geographical indication (GI) status in China since 2013, which only protected the region against other wines using the name. The new "well-known name" status, however, extends protection to any products and services, not just wine, from being labeled and marketed with the name Champagne.
Comité Champagne initially brought the case to court in 2022, when the Beijing Intellectual Property Court found the two cosmetics companies guilty of infringing Champagne’s GI trademark. The "Champagne Life" perfume is produced by the Guangzhou-based Xuelei Cosmetics Co. Ltd., and distributed by the Beijing-based Yali Shadi Cosmetics Co. Ltd..
In the original case, Comité Champagne argued that the perfume's labeling imitated Champagne’s trademarks, potentially diluting the association between the trademarks and the appellation’s products.
Source: The Drinks Business