GUANGDONG FOODSTUFFS IMPORT & EXPORT (GROUP) CORPORATION AND ANOTHER v. TUNG FOOK CHINESE WINE (1982) CO. LTD. AND ANOTHER

GUANGDONG FOODSTUFFS IMPORT & EXPORT (GROUP) CORPORATION AND ANOTHER v. TUNG FOOK CHINESE WINE (1982) CO. LTD. AND ANOTHER

The Court found that GDF was the owner of the goodwill in the Pearl River Bridge Super Mellow Mijiu and Shiwan Mijiu in Hong Kong, that the Pearl River Bridge trade mark and associated reputation accrued to GDF and that the labels (copyright) belonged beneficially to GDF; Tung Fook (1982)'s registration and China...

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Citation
GUANGDONG FOODSTUFFS IMPORT & EXPORT (GROUP) CORPORATION AND ANOTHER v. TUNG FOOK CHINESE WINE (1982) CO. LTD. AND ANOTHER
Parties
Plaintiff: Guangdong Foodstuffs Import & Export (Group) Corporation; Plaintiff: Yau Shing Hong Provisions Limited; Defendant: Tung Fook Chinese Wine (1982) Co. Ltd.; Defendant: Shiwan Brewery of Foshan City in Guangdong Province; Defendant: Chung Tai Wine & Spirit Company Limited; Defendant: China Resources Advertising & Exhibition Co. Ltd.
Court
Court of First Instance
Jurisdiction
Hong Kong
Judgment Date
29 October 1998
Case Number
HCA9547/1995
Procedural Posture
Civil Litigation Intellectual Property (passing Off, Trade Mark, Copyright, Injurious Falsehood, Tort) / Judgment in Court of First Instance (final Decision on Liability; Remedies Partly Deferred)
Outcome
Plaintiffs' claims allowed in part; injunctions and declarations granted to Plaintiffs; counterclaim by defendants dismissed; further remedies (damages, trade mark registry orders) deferred for further hearing and Registrar input
Legal Topics
Ownership of Goodwill, Trade Mark Registration and Rectification, Copyright Ownership and Assignment, Passing Off Elements, Injurious Falsehood/malicious Falsehood, Unlawful Interference With Contracts, Constructive Trust and Fiduciary Breach, Remedies (injunctions, Declarations, Costs)
Source Language
et
Intellectual Property Trade Marks Copyright Passing Off Tort Contract Commercial Litigation Ownership of Goodwill +7 more

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Parties

Guangdong Foodstuffs Import & Export (Group) Corporation

Plaintiff

Yau Shing Hong Provisions Limited

Plaintiff

Tung Fook Chinese Wine (1982) Co. Ltd.

Defendant

Shiwan Brewery of Foshan City in Guangdong Province

Defendant

Chung Tai Wine & Spirit Company Limited

Defendant

China Resources Advertising & Exhibition Co. Ltd.

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Civil Litigation Intellectual Property (passing Off, Trade Mark, Copyright, Injurious Falsehood, Tort) / Judgment in Court of First Instance (final Decision on Liability; Remedies Partly Deferred)

  1. 1 Who owned the goodwill in the Pearl River Bridge Super Mellow Mijiu and Shiwan Mijiu (GDF or local/coastal companies)?
  2. 2 Whether registration of trade mark No.02010/95 by Tung Fook (1982) should be rectified/expunged
  3. 3 Whether GDF beneficially owned the copyright in the wine labels and whether assignments to Tung Fook (1982) were valid

Ratio Decidendi

The Court found that GDF was the owner of the goodwill in the Pearl River Bridge Super Mellow Mijiu and Shiwan Mijiu in Hong Kong, that the Pearl River Bridge trade mark and associated reputation accrued to GDF and that the labels (copyright) belonged beneficially to GDF; Tung Fook (1982)'s registration and China Advertising's assignment were procured in breach of trust and without GDF's authority and were voidable; defendants committed passing off and injurious falsehood and are restrained by injunctions; counterclaims dismissed; the Registrar of Trade Marks to be consulted before final rectification orders.

Court Disposition

Plaintiffs' claims allowed in part; injunctions and declarations granted to Plaintiffs; counterclaim by defendants dismissed; further remedies (damages, trade mark registry orders) deferred for further hearing and Registrar input

Orders

  • Injunction against Tung Fook (1982) and Shiwan Brewery restraining passing off by use of the name Super Mellow Mijiu and its label
  • Injunction against Tung Fook (1982) and Shiwan Brewery preventing further publication of the false statements contained in the newspaper announcements and letters