A Chinese bubble‑tea chain, Molly Tea, has been ordered to pay 10.3 million yuan (about $1.5 million) in damages after a court found its logo infringed on Louis Vuitton’s trademark, sparking a vigorous online debate about copyright protection.
According to Chinese media, a court in eastern Jiangsu province ruled that the Shenzhen‑based tea company had copied Louis Vuitton’s iconic four‑petal flower monogram.
The ruling has split public opinion online in China, with a hashtag related to the case garnering over 400 million views and tens of thousands of comments.
The BBC has reached out to both Molly Tea and Louis Vuitton for comment.
On Thursday, a court in Suzhou, located east of Shanghai, ordered Molly Tea to cease using the disputed logo, issue a public apology, and pay damages to Louis Vuitton, according to state media China Daily.
The outlet added that Molly Tea and its affiliated companies had applied for several trademarks that were rejected by China’s National Intellectual Property Administration.
Only the trademark featuring the Chinese characters for “Molly Tea” was successfully registered, China Daily reported.
Many Chinese social‑media users have defended the logo’s design, arguing that numerous Western luxury brands have drawn inspiration from Chinese artefacts.
A Weibo user commented in Mandarin that he will “drink a cup of Molly Tea daily” to demonstrate his support for the company.
The commenter wrote, “Give me a break. They’re just taking advantage of the fact that our ancestors didn’t file for patents.”
A RedNote user remarked, “Such basic geometric shapes have been used everywhere throughout history, not just in China.”
Nevertheless, some netizens supported the court’s verdict.
A Weibo user argued that supporters of Molly Tea’s design should “study law first,” noting that Louis Vuitton had already registered the trademark, so there is no dispute.
Another commenter said Louis Vuitton is justified in protecting its intellectual property and that other brands cannot imitate it, regardless of industry.
Also Read
- World Cup 2026: Quarterfinal Field Set, Schedule Revealed
- Andy Burnham, the UK’s Likely Next Prime Minister, Made His Name in Manchester. Here’s How.
- Indian Stocks Open Modestly Higher Amid Positive Asian Cues
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Malakand Division Sees Massive Unity in Protest Against New Tax Imposition
