Brand Marketing
“Copied” or “Copycat”? Uni-President’s “Xiaoming Classmate” Infringement Case Escalates!
In the FMCG industry, counterfeit products are rampant, with many imitations of popular brands like “Six Walnuts,” “Xiaoming Classmate,” “Lulu,” “Fruit Orange,” “Red Bull,” and “Coconut Juice.” Uni-President’s “Xiaoming Classmate” tea, a hit among young consumers, faced its own infringement lawsuit when Beijing Zhuomu Century Network Technology Co., Ltd. claimed the character design was copied from their “Xiaoming Classmate” creation. After an initial victory for the plaintiff, the case took a surprising turn in the second-instance trial, where the court ruled in favor of Uni-President, a decision that has sparked controversy and raised questions about judicial fairness in intellectual property protection.
邓皓