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

On the facts the court found GDF controlled and was perceived as responsible for the Pearl River Bridge line of rice wine (Super Mellow Mijiu and Shiwan Mijiu) and therefore owned the goodwill in Hong Kong; GDF was beneficial owner of the copyright in the labels; defendants used labels and published statements that...

Source-derived case information.

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: China Resources Advertising & Exhibition Co. Ltd.; Defendant by Counterclaim: Chung Tai Wine & Spirit Company Limited
Court
Court of First Instance
Jurisdiction
Hong Kong
Judgment Date
29 October 1998
Case Number
HCA7759/1995
Procedural Posture
Civil Intellectual Property Dispute (passing Off, Copyright, Trade Mark, Injurious Falsehood, Unlawful Interference) / Judgment (trial) Handed Down 29 October 1998
Outcome
Plaintiffs' claims largely successful; injunctive and declaratory relief granted to GDF; counterclaims dismissed; Registrar of Trade Marks to be consulted about rectification consequences and blank-space condition before final order on trade mark registration; consequential relief and damages to be assessed at...
Legal Topics
Ownership of Goodwill, Passing Off Elements, Trade Mark Rectification, Copyright Ownership and Equitable Assignment, Injurious Falsehood, Unlawful Interference With Contracts, Remedies and Injunctions
Source Language
et
Intellectual Property Trade Mark Copyright Passing Off Tort Contract Commercial Litigation Ownership of Goodwill +6 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

China Resources Advertising & Exhibition Co. Ltd.

Defendant

Chung Tai Wine & Spirit Company Limited

Defendant by Counterclaim

Procedural Posture

Civil Intellectual Property Dispute (passing Off, Copyright, Trade Mark, Injurious Falsehood, Unlawful Interference) / Judgment (trial) Handed Down 29 October 1998

  1. 1 Who owned the goodwill in the Pearl River Bridge Super Mellow Mijiu and Shiwan Mijiu in Hong Kong?
  2. 2 Whether defendants passed off goods or used labels/trade marks causing likelihood of confusion and damage
  3. 3 Whether the Super Mellow Mijiu trade mark registered by Tung Fook should be rectified/expunged

Ratio Decidendi

On the facts the court found GDF controlled and was perceived as responsible for the Pearl River Bridge line of rice wine (Super Mellow Mijiu and Shiwan Mijiu) and therefore owned the goodwill in Hong Kong; GDF was beneficial owner of the copyright in the labels; defendants used labels and published statements that caused likelihood of confusion and pecuniary loss and acted maliciously in respect of injurious falsehood; registration of the Super Mellow Mijiu mark by Tung Fook was obtained without GDF's consent and rectification was warranted though the Registrar would be consulted about conditions; consequential remedies including injunctions and declarations were ordered and...

Court Disposition

Plaintiffs' claims largely successful; injunctive and declaratory relief granted to GDF; counterclaims dismissed; Registrar of Trade Marks to be consulted about rectification consequences and blank-space condition before final order on trade mark registration; consequential relief and damages to be assessed at...

Orders

  • Injunctions against Tung Fook (1982) and Shiwan Brewery restraining passing off by use of Super Mellow Mijiu name and label and restraining further publications of false statements and letters
  • Injunctions against Shiwan Brewery and Chung Tai restraining passing off by use of Shiwan Mijiu name and label