Electrolux Wins Trademark Lawsuit Against Chinese Firms Feb 22, 2012

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Appliance maker Electrolux, based in Sweden, won a lawsuit filed against three Chinese firms that it claimed were infringing upon its trademark, according to the Shanghai Daily. Huangpu District People's Court awarded Electrolux compensation of 121,000 yuan, or a little over US$19,000. Electrolux had asked for 500,000 yuan.

The filing from Electrolux said the three Chinese firms made and sold refrigerators and washers under a brand name - "Elekes" - similar to Electrolux's registered Chinese trademarks. Electrolux accused the Chinese firms of misleading buyers into thinking they were Electrolux-made appliances by using promotional graphics with Swedish flags and the phrase "High Tech from Sweden."

In addition to compensating Electrolux, the Chinese courts ordered one of the three offending Chinese companies to change its name. Qingdao Elekes Electronic Appliance Company was told to change its Chinese name, which was said to contain the same Chinese language characters as the Electrolux Chinese brand name.

Electrolux asked the three companies to stop infringing its trademarks and demanded a compensation of 500,000 yuan.

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