BRIDGESTONE Corporation has won a lawsuit against Chinese tyre manufacturer Guangzhou Bolex Tyre Ltd. regarding infringement of trademark rights it filed in March 2010.
The case claimed that Guangzhou Bolex manufactured and sold tyres under the name “Gemstone,” a name similar to “Bridgestone,” a registered trademark of the company.
The lawsuit was filed in the Tianjin Binhai New Area People’s Court. After Bridgestone’s claim was upheld in that court, the Chinese company. filed an appeal in the Tianjin No.2 Intermediate People’s Court, and in January 2013, Bridgestone’s claim again was upheld and the original court decision was confirmed.
Accordingly, the court ordered Guangzhou Bolex, to discontinue the production and sales of Gemstone tyres and pay damages.
The Bridgestone Group said it is committed to protecting its intellectual property, and will continue to take aggressive action in the courts and before regulators to dispute any unauthorised use or infringement of its trademarks or other intellectual property, and thus, will oppose any attempt to sell goods under names confusingly similar to Bridgestone trademarks in order to protect consumers and to maintain and enhance the company’s brand value. (RJA)
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