Ralph Lauren Wins Eight-Year China Trademark Battle

Ralph Lauren has secured a significant victory in China's intellectual property landscape, concluding an eight-year legal battle that involved over 600 lawsuits. The Beijing High People's Court recently ruled in favor of Ralph Lauren, confirming that the company's "POLO" trademark is a well-known trademark for clothing under the 25th class of goods. This decision effectively invalidates the "POLO POLO CLUB" trademark owned by Guangzhou Aichi Company, which had been at the center of the dispute.

The court's ruling aligns with a previous decision made by the Guangzhou Intellectual Property Court in 2021, which also recognized the "POLO" trademark as a well-known trademark. The Beijing Intellectual Property Court had initially ruled in favor of Ralph Lauren, recognizing the "POLO" trademark as a well-known trademark and ordering a victory for Ralph Lauren. Both the defendant, the National Intellectual Property Administration, and the third party, Guangzhou Aichi Company, appealed the decision, leading to the final ruling by the Beijing High People's Court. The court upheld the lower court's decision, reaffirming that the "POLO" trademark is a well-known trademark and that the use of the disputed trademark could mislead the public and dilute the distinctiveness of the "POLO" trademark, thereby harming Ralph Lauren's interests.

The case had garnered significant attention on social media last December, with the core debate revolving around whether the term "POLO," which translates to polo in English, could be used as a common word in the fashion industry. Professor Guo Jian Guang from the University of Liverpool in China commented that while "POLO" is a common English word, its application in the market is crucial. If used in product promotion, packaging, and marketing in a way that mimics the original trademark, it could constitute trademark infringement.

Lawyer Zhou Zilin from Fangda Partners, who handled the case, noted that China's intellectual property laws, including the well-known Trademark Law and the Trademark Law, are continually evolving by learning from international multilateral treaties. She emphasized that while the "POLO shirt" design is a common fashion style, Ralph Lauren's brand design and logo are distinctive and should be protected from infringement. This ruling sets a precedent for future trademark disputes, underscoring the importance of protecting well-known trademarks and preventing consumer confusion in the market.