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

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

On the facts the court found that GDF, not the defendants, owned the goodwill in the Pearl River Bridge line (including Super Mellow Mijiu and Shiwan Mijiu), that GDF was the beneficial owner of the copyrights in the labels, that defendants' use and substitutions of marks/labels and the registration/assignment were...

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Citation
GUANGDONG FOODSTUFFS IMPORT & EXPORT (GROUP) CORPORATION 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 Company Limited; Defendant: Chung Tai Wine & Spirit Company Limited
Court
Court of First Instance
Jurisdiction
Hong Kong
Judgment Date
29 October 1998
Case Number
HCA11061/1995
Procedural Posture
Civil Litigation — Intellectual Property (passing Off, Trade Mark, Copyright), Injurious Falsehood and Unlawful Interference / Trial Judgment Handed Down 29 October 1998
Outcome
Judgment for the Plaintiffs (Guangdong Foodstuffs Import & Export (Group) Corporation and Yau Shing Hong Provisions Limited); defendants' counterclaims dismissed
Legal Topics
Ownership of Goodwill, Passing Off, Trade Mark Rectification, Copyright Ownership and Assignment, Copyright Infringement, Injurious Falsehood, Unlawful Interference With Contract, Estoppel, Remedies (injunctions, Declarations, Costs)
Source Language
et
Intellectual Property Trade Mark Law Copyright Tort (injurious Falsehood) Passing Off Commercial/contract Law Ownership of Goodwill Trade Mark Rectification +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 Company Limited

Defendant

Chung Tai Wine & Spirit Company Limited

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Civil Litigation — Intellectual Property (passing Off, Trade Mark, Copyright), Injurious Falsehood and Unlawful Interference / Trial Judgment Handed Down 29 October 1998

  1. 1 Who owned the goodwill in the Pearl River Bridge Super Mellow Mijiu and Shiwan Mijiu (GDF or defendants)
  2. 2 Whether defendants engaged in passing off
  3. 3 Whether Tung Fook's registration of trade mark No.02010/95 should be rectified/expunged

Ratio Decidendi

On the facts the court found that GDF, not the defendants, owned the goodwill in the Pearl River Bridge line (including Super Mellow Mijiu and Shiwan Mijiu), that GDF was the beneficial owner of the copyrights in the labels, that defendants' use and substitutions of marks/labels and the registration/assignment were without authority and in breach of rights, and that defendants published malicious false statements causing pecuniary damage; accordingly plaintiffs succeed on passing off, copyright infringement and injurious falsehood and defendants' counterclaims fail.

Court Disposition

Judgment for the Plaintiffs (Guangdong Foodstuffs Import & Export (Group) Corporation and Yau Shing Hong Provisions Limited); defendants' counterclaims dismissed