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Intellectual Property

Jul. 27, 2026

Louis Vuitton's $1.4 million trademark wake-up call for global brands

A Chinese court's RMB 10 million trademark ruling against a milk tea chain shows why global brands must think beyond product categories, understand different trademark systems and protect their marks before disputes arise.

Judy Yen

Attorney
Omnus Law

Intellectual Property

See more...

Louis Vuitton's $1.4 million trademark wake-up call for global brands
The seating area at a Molly Tea shop located in a shopping mall in Shanghai, China. Shutterstock

On June 29, 2026, the Suzhou Intermediate People's Court ordered Shenzhen Molly Tea Catering Management Co., Ltd., one of China's fastest-growing milk tea chains, to pay Louis Vuitton Malletier RMB 10 million ($1.4 million) in damages plus RMB 300,000 in enforcement costs for infringing seven of LV's registered four-petal flower trademarks, and to publish corrective statements across its website and social media accounts. Molly Tea says it will appeal, and the ruling has ...

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