"Mona Lisa" Trademark Case in China, a decision of procedural significance
In 2012, the two plaintiffs Mona Lisa Building Materials Co. Ltd. and Mona Lisa Sanitary Appliance Co. requested the cancellation of the registered trademark M MONALISA in Class 11 for “Flush Toilets owned by the Mona Lisa Group Co., Ltd. The plaintiffs based their claim on the prior registration of MONA LISA and Chinese characters in Class 11 for “Bath fittings, Sauna bath installations, Shower cubicles, etc.”. On November 25th, 2013, the Trademark Review and Adjudication Board (TRAB) decided in favour of the plaintiffs.
However, the Beijing First Intermediate People’s Court (IPC...