Gucci sues over stationery

The Italian fashion giant Gucci S.P.A. is seeking 500,000 yuan in compensation from a Shanghai stationery maker, accusing it of using the Gucci trademark on its notebooks. The Shanghai No 2 Intermediate People's Court heard the case recently, but has not yet delivered a verdict. Gucci said it received approval for the GG pattern trademark in China in October 2006 and the trademark is now under the state protection. It has used the trademark pattern on stationery, including notebooks, and promoted the image since it was registered. It says the trademark is now widely recognized. In August 2007, the plaintiff found notebooks bearing the GG logo on sale at the Century Lianhua Supermarket Hongkou outlet. The notebooks carried a label on the back that read Mailun Stationery along with a telephone number. The plaintiff found the notebooks were produced by the Shanghai Mailun Office Equipment Co Ltd.

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