Double Court Success for RIMOWA in China

          On October 28, 2016, the luggage manufacturer RIMOWA won a precedent-setting court case in China, one of the largest sales markets in Asia. This breakthrough represents a major step in the RIMOWA groove design being recognized in Asia as an example of well-known industrial design.
         

          The court in Zhongshan, southern China, recognized that the groove design was the characteristic distinguishing feature of products made by RIMOWA and therefore deserves protection from being counterfeited. The court also found that the "AIMOWA" suitcase had a similar groove design and that this could lead to it being confused with RIMOWA suitcases. Based on the high reputation of the characteristic RIMOWA groove design in China, the court ruled that the violation in question constituted an infringement of Chinese competition law.

          The court prohibited further marketing and sales of the "AIMOWA" suitcase in order to protect consumers from the risk of confusion. Similarly, the term "AIMOWA" was deemed likely to be confused with the RIMOWA brand, and its continued use by the defendant was prohibited.

          RIMOWA President & CEO Dieter Morszeck was delighted:  "This positive ruling in China demonstrates that our brand has an excellent position in Asia and that the design of our products has a very high profile in China, which the authorities consider to be protectable."