Tesla Caught Up in China Trademark Dispute

Tesla Caught Up in China Trademark Dispute
Jul 10, 2014 By eChinacities.com

The US’s biggest electric car producer is being sued in China over rights to the name Tesla in China.

According to the claimant, Zhan Baosheng, he registered the rights to the name Tesla before Tesla entered the Chinese market. He wants Tesla to shut down its showrooms and service centers, cease all sales and marketing activities, and pay him 2.3 million RMB.

The case was first brought up last year, and Chinese authorities sided with Tesla; Zhan is hoping to overturn the ruling although experts say that this is highly unlikely.

Other international companies which have come to blows over branding rights in China include Apple Inc and Burberry Group Plc.

Zhan applied for trademark rights to the name in 2006 and was granted exclusive rights in 2006. The decision was overturned in 2013 at the behest of Tesla.

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Keywords: Tesla Caught Up in China Trademark Dispute

2 Comments

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DrMonkey

An informed comment on this trademark dispute right here http://www.chinalawblog.com/2014/07/when-to-register-your-china-trademark-ask-tesla.html The idea is that Chinese law is "first to register the name, wins". Registering a name is quite cheap in China. So if you see some business with potential outside of China, you can register the name in China, and wait for that business to try to come to China. And you get a case you can win. A form of investment, some would say ^^

Jul 11, 2014 10:47 Report Abuse

DrMonkey

I don't get, sorry. Tesla cars are built in California http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Factory This trademark issue is to *sell* cars, not building them.

Jul 11, 2014 13:20 Report Abuse