Recently, the Guangdong High People's Court rendered a final judgment in the case of HARMAN International Industries, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "HARMAN") v. Shenzhen Qikang Medical Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "the Defendant") et al. concerning disputes of trademark infringement and unfair competition (2025) Yue Min Zhong No. 3065). The Court held that the "JBL" series trademarks registered by HARMAN for goods including "Loudspeakers; Earphone" in Class 9 are well-known trademarks, and ordered the infringing parties to immediately cease using the "JBL" mark on goods including hearing aids in Class 10, compensate for damages, and eliminate adverse effects.
Case Brief
In this case, the Defendant prominently used the "JBL" mark on its hearing aid products and in promotional materials, and misappropriated images of HARMAN's audio and earphone products for false advertising. Faced with the difficulty that the goods involved are of different classes and are not similar, the Unitalen legal team adopted effective trial strategies to prompt the Court to initiate the well-known trademark recognition procedure. The Court ultimately held that, as of the filing date of the Defendant's infringing trademark (September 15, 2021), the "JBL" trademark had enjoyed an extremely high reputation among the relevant public through long-term extensive use and promotion, and thus constituted a well-known trademark. The Defendant's acts constituted imitation and dilution of the well-known trademark and shall be enjoined in accordance with the law.
This victory marks the first time the "JBL" brand has been judicially recognized as a well-known trademark in China, representing a landmark breakthrough in China's intellectual property protection. The success of this case would not have been possible without the mutual trust and close collaboration between the Unitalen legal team and HARMAN's global and China legal teams. The client team provided long-term key evidence in this case, featuring a complete system and extensive coverage, including sales, promotions, market position, and prior protection records, which laid a solid factual foundation for the recognition of the well-known trademark and served as an indispensable pillar for the case's success.
Case Significance
The judgment in this case further reflects the Chinese judiciary's commitment to providing strong protection for well-known brands and sets a valuable precedent for similar cases. It carries positive exemplary significance for encouraging innovation and maintaining a fair and competitive market order.