On the occasion of World Intellectual Property Day (26 April), Liuhe Law Firm has selected eight representative intellectual property cases from 2024–2025, covering trademarks, patents, and copyrights. These cases reflect the firm’s deep expertise, consistent professionalism, and comprehensive service capability in the field of intellectual property law.
Liuhe remains committed to its founding principles — service as its foundation and professionalism as its cornerstone — striving to deliver high-quality, efficient, and compliant legal services to a growing base of clients.
(The following are selected publicly available cases for illustration.)
Overview:
This case spanned more than a decade and involved multiple rounds of proceedings — including invalidation requests, administrative litigation at first instance, appeal, retrial, and re-adjudication.
The disputed trademark “某茅” was filed in 2007 by a distillery in Chenggong, Yunnan, and registered in 2009 for “fermentation starter” products. In 2014, Guizhou Moutai (Group) Co., Ltd. filed an invalidation request based on Articles 13 and 30 of the Trademark Law. The former Trademark Review and Adjudication Board declared the mark invalid. After subsequent judicial challenges and a retrial, the Supreme People’s Court ordered a rehearing. Upon re-adjudication, the CNIPA again declared the disputed trademark invalid, a decision later upheld by the Beijing IP Court and Beijing High Court.
Liuhe's Representation:
Representing Guizhou Moutai during the administrative litigation phase, Lawyer Jia Hong carefully analysed the evolving circumstances and successfully argued that although certain cited marks had been cancelled, other cited marks and legal bases had not been considered during earlier proceedings. The Supreme People’s Court accepted this reasoning, leading to a ruling that, while overturning prior decisions, clarified the oversight and guided CNIPA’s subsequent ruling — which again invalidated the disputed trademark.
Represented by: Jia Hong
Overview:
The plaintiff, Zhejiang [Redacted] Footwear Co., Ltd., and a third-party Wenzhou leather shoe factory had longstanding disputes over trade names and trademarks. The disputed mark “蜻某牌” was filed in 2017 by a Beijing company, later assigned to the third party, and registered in 2021 for “sports shoes, footwear.”
In 2022, Zhejiang [Redacted] Footwear sought invalidation under Articles 30, 31, and 4 of the Trademark Law, but CNIPA upheld the registration. On appeal, the Beijing High Court reversed both the first-instance judgment and CNIPA’s decision, ordering a re-examination.
Liuhe's Representation:
Acting for the plaintiff, Lawyers Wu Zhuang and Jia Hong examined the historical business relationship between the parties and substantiated the prior mark’s reputation and continuity. Their arguments were fully endorsed by the Beijing High Court, resulting in a successful outcome for the client.
Represented by: Wu Zhuang, Jia Hong
Overview:
A Guangzhou technology company, owner of a figurative trademark, sued a well-known Taobao livestreamer and associated parties for alleged infringement, seeking RMB 5 million in damages and a public apology. Liuhe represented the four defendants.
The first-instance court found no infringement and dismissed all claims. During the appeal, CNIPA invalidated the plaintiff’s trademark, leading the second-instance court to dismiss the appeal accordingly.
Liuhe's Representation:
Lawyers Jia Hong and Li Xiaoxuan adopted a dual defence strategy — asserting non-infringement in civil proceedings and simultaneously filing an invalidation request against the asserted trademark. Both strategies succeeded, comprehensively protecting the clients’ lawful interests.
Represented by: Jia Hong, Li Xiaoxuan
Overview:
In 2021, Hunan H Company exported adhesives marked “C****A” to the Dominican Republic, allegedly infringing Ningbo M Company’s registered Chinese trademark.
Following litigation, the court held that the mark referred to a foreign company’s registration abroad and thus did not infringe.
In 2023, H Company sued M Company for RMB 580,000 in damages arising from customs seizure and asset preservation measures, but the court rejected the claim, finding M Company not at fault.
Liuhe's Representation:
Lawyers Hu Chongwen and Liu Wenguang had participated from the customs IP protection stage, ensuring due diligence before seizure and advising timely release post-judgment to mitigate losses. The court recognised M Company’s careful conduct and held it free of liability — a result achieved through the team’s rigorous and professional legal management throughout the IP enforcement lifecycle.
Represented by: Hu Chongwen, Liu Wenguang
Overview:
A Hangzhou-based automotive accessory manufacturer sought to introduce an electronic parking display into the European market but faced potential infringement risks from a Danish competitor’s global patent portfolio.
Liuhe's Representation:
Lawyers Zhao Weikang and Zhu Lingling provided a two-pronged approach:
Defensive: Conducted detailed patent mapping, issued non-infringement opinions, engaged European patent counsel, and guided the client’s domestic and foreign filings.
Offensive: Upon receiving a cease-and-desist letter from the Danish competitor, Liuhe coordinated with German counsel to demand withdrawal and reimbursement of legal costs, successfully achieving both.
The client’s products subsequently entered the EU market smoothly, free from interference.
Represented by: Zhao Weikang, Zhu Lingling
Overview:
A globally renowned sports eyewear brand (Company A) discovered repeat infringement of its design patents by a Guangzhou manufacturer that had previously settled and agreed to pay RMB 500,000 per case for any future infringement.
When repeat infringement occurred, A sued again, seeking RMB 1 million in damages. Both trial courts upheld the claims.
Liuhe's Representation:
Lawyers Kong Qin and Liu Wenguang demonstrated the infringer’s bad faith and validated the enforceability of pre-agreed damages in repeated infringement cases. The case provides judicial precedent on the application of pre-set compensation clauses, reinforcing deterrence against repeat infringers.
Represented by: Kong Qin, Liu Wenguang
Overview:
Two plaintiffs accused a construction machinery manufacturer and user of infringing four utility model patents relating to angled pile construction equipment, each unit valued over RMB 1.5 million.
Liuhe's Representation:
Lawyers Zhao Weikang, Xu Hong, and Zhu Lingling dissected each patent claim, proving that the accused device lacked essential features such as the “angle-adjusting cylinder.” They also initiated invalidation proceedings against the asserted patents, citing lack of inventiveness.
Facing imminent invalidation and weak infringement evidence, the plaintiffs voluntarily withdrew their claims in April 2025, and the court ordered them to bear the litigation costs. The clients avoided liability and business disruption entirely.
Represented by: Zhao Weikang, Xu Hong, Zhu Lingling
Overview:
Former employees Li and Ma of the client company misappropriated its proprietary control software and sold it to a new company established by Ma. The unauthorised distribution generated RMB 600,000 in illegal revenue.
The Deqing People’s Court convicted both defendants of copyright infringement, imposing fines totalling RMB 560,000 and imprisonment.
In subsequent civil proceedings, the court awarded an additional RMB 310,000 in economic losses and legal costs to the client. The case was later selected by the Supreme People’s Procuratorate as one of China’s Top Ten IP Cases of 2023.
Liuhe's Representation:
Lawyers Zhao Weikang and Xu Hong filed the criminal complaint, coordinated with investigative authorities, and pursued subsequent civil recovery — achieving comprehensive protection of the client’s intellectual property rights.
Represented by: Zhao Weikang, Xu Hong
These representative cases highlight Liuhe Law Firm’s depth of expertise in complex and cross-disciplinary IP matters, ranging from trademark invalidation and patent strategy to copyright enforcement.
Through meticulous legal craftsmanship and a commitment to innovation and client service, Liuhe lawyers continue to contribute to the advancement of IP protection in China and abroad, upholding the firm’s guiding ethos —
“With service as our foundation and professionalism as our strength.”
