Double Court Success for RIMOWA in China

PR66708

COLOGNE, Germany, Nov. 29 / PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

      On October 28, 2016, the luggage manufacturer RIMOWA won a

precedent-setting court case in China, one of the largest sales markets in

Asia. This breakthrough represents a major step in the RIMOWA groove design

being recognized in Asia as an example of well-known industrial design.

     Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161129/443535

     The court in Zhongshan, southern China, recognized that the groove design

was the characteristic distinguishing feature of products made by RIMOWA and

therefore deserves protection from being counterfeited. The court also found

that the "AIMOWA" suitcase had a similar groove design and that this could lead

to it being confused with RIMOWA suitcases. Based on the high reputation of the

characteristic RIMOWA groove design in China, the court ruled that the

violation in question constituted an infringement of Chinese competition law.

    The court prohibited further marketing and sales of the "AIMOWA" suitcase

in order to protect consumers from the risk of confusion. Similarly, the term

"AIMOWA" was deemed likely to be confused with the RIMOWA brand, and its

continued use by the defendant was prohibited.

    RIMOWA President & CEO Dieter Morszeck was delighted:  "This positive

ruling in China demonstrates that our brand has an excellent position in Asia

and that the design of our products has a very high profile in China, which the

authorities consider to be protectable."

    Press contact:

    RIMOWA GmbH

    Birgit Wenners

    Head of Public Relations and Communications

    Richard-Byrd-Str. 13

    50829 Cologne

    Germany

    bwenners@rimowa.de

    +49-221-9564-170

    Source: RIMOWA Gmb