A court in China has ruled in favour of luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton in a trademark infringement case against popular tea chain Molly Tea, ordering the company to pay 10.3 million yuan (approximately S$1.96 million) in damages.
The decision was handed down by the Suzhou Intermediate People’s Court in Jiangsu Province, following a lawsuit filed by the French luxury brand in 2025.
Besides financial compensation, Molly Tea has also been instructed to stop using the disputed designs and issue a public apology.
Court Finds Similarities In Floral Logos
The dispute centred on floral logo designs used by Molly Tea, which Louis Vuitton argued closely resembled several of its registered four-petal flower trademarks.
Louis Vuitton, established in Paris in 1854, is known worldwide for its iconic monogram patterns and floral motifs featured on handbags, luggage and other luxury products.
According to reports from Chinese media, the court found that Molly Tea had infringed upon seven of Louis Vuitton’s registered graphic trademarks.
The ruling was issued on June 29, 2026, although news of the case gained wider attention after being reported by Chinese outlets on July 2.
Molly Tea Plans To Appeal
Molly Tea, a Shenzhen-based beverage chain with outlets across China, has indicated that it intends to challenge the decision through the appeals process.
The company and its related entities had previously submitted several trademark applications featuring floral-themed designs to China’s intellectual property authorities beginning in March 2024.
These applications covered various business categories, including food and beverage services, advertising activities and convenience food products.
However, reports stated that most of the applications were unsuccessful, with only a trademark incorporating the Chinese characters for “Molly Tea” ultimately receiving approval.
Online Debate Emerges Following Ruling
The court’s decision has sparked extensive discussion on Chinese social media, with opinions divided over whether the two logos are genuinely similar.
Some users agreed with the court’s findings and argued that the floral designs share noticeable visual characteristics.
Others questioned the ruling, pointing out that Louis Vuitton and Molly Tea operate in completely different industries and target different customer groups.
A number of commentators also suggested that floral motifs have long been part of traditional Chinese artistic culture, arguing that such designs should not necessarily be associated with a single brand.
Trademark Law And Cultural Motifs
Legal experts interviewed by Chinese media noted that both parties have the right to appeal the judgment.
They explained that future proceedings could focus on whether either side can demonstrate that its design possesses sufficient originality and distinctiveness.
While floral patterns have historically appeared in Chinese art and cultural works for centuries, trademark disputes are generally assessed under China’s “first-to-file” system.
Under this framework, the first party to successfully register a trademark is granted exclusive rights to its use, while later applications featuring similar designs may be rejected.
The outcome highlights the importance of intellectual property protection in China, particularly as domestic brands continue expanding and competing in increasingly crowded consumer markets.