The dispute over “Muji” between China and Japan has come to an end, and domestically produced Muji finally won the lawsuit. Japan’s Muji has really lost its “Muji” trademark in China – at least, that will be the case when it sells bed sheets, towels and other products in the future.
Japanese MUJI trademark
Recently, the senior people of Beijing The court made a final judgment on the dispute over trademark infringement by Muji, ordering Liangpin Project and Shanghai Muji to immediately stop infringing on the registered trademark rights of Cotton Field Company and Beijing Muji. Official flagship store” and physical stores in mainland China issued statements to eliminate the impact of the infringement and compensated for economic losses of 500,000 yuan and reasonable expenses of more than 126,000 yuan.
The top is Japanese Muji, the bottom is domestic Muji
In Online, Japan’s MUJI has begun to fulfill the judgment and issued a statement stating that the “MUJI” trademark “was registered by other companies” in some product categories, resulting in its own misuse. It has now been rectified and the names of some products have been Also changed from “MUJI” to “MUJI”.
Are you a little confused? ? It doesn’t matter, let’s first review this 20-year-long “MUJI” trademark battle.
The 20-year battle for the Muji trademark
You see here, you understand. In 1999, MUJI registered MUJI in China, but by some strange coincidence, only category 24 was left unregistered (do you think you will never produce bed sheets in this life?). Therefore, the new MUJI was given a chance. However, MUJI has been cautious for more than ten years, but its mistakes in 2014 led to renewed disputes.
In fact, China’s courts do not favor any party. Shanzhai’s victory is completely legal, and Ryokan’s defeat also bears its own responsibility. As early as 2004, before the Japanese brand “MUJI” entered China, Beijing Miantian Textile Co., Ltd. had registered the trademark “MUJI”. Ryokan Keikan only officially entered China in 2005. According to the first-come, first-served rule, Ryokan Keikan is indeed the infringing party. Although this kind of “squatting” behavior is shameless, it also exposes Ryohin Kekei’s lack of copyright awareness. In addition, Beijing Cotton Field Textile Co., Ltd. only has the right to use Class 24 commodities (mainly cotton textiles). Just like “Great Wall” cars and “Great Wall” red wine do not interfere with each other, other products of Ryohin Keke still remain The words “MUJI” can be used, so loyal MUJI users don’t have to worry too much. Although Ryohin Keke lost the trademark infringement dispute case, the two companies had competed for many rounds before, and the winner was Ryohin Keke, receiving 2 million yuan in compensation. It turns out that this “copycat” MUJI not only tampered with the trademark, but also had traces of deliberately imitating the good product plan in everything from store design to product style. It even had the English word “MUJI” openly printed on it, showing that it was full of ambiguity. Full of suspicion.
Is domestic Muji a “copycat”?
Domestic MUJI products use legal trademarks, but are labeled as “copycats” by many people. The word “shanzhai” not only represents an outrageous infringement of other trademarks, but also often carries with it contempt for product quality.
In the judgment, we can see that since the domestic MUJI registered its trademark, Japanese merchants have been continuously safeguarding their rights. After two rulings by the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the court The first and second trials, and in 2012, the lawsuit went all the way to the Supreme People’s Court. The final result was that the approval and registration of domestically produced MUJI products was legal and compliant.
China Judgment Document Network published the second instance judgment of this case
Not only that, the facts identified in the judgment also illustrate , the domestic MUJI brand is not unknown –
The domestic MUJI brand has won the Most Original Design Award of China Home Textiles; its towel products have won the towel handkerchief category at the China International Textile Expo Gold Award; the company has won a series of honors, including the Most Fashionable and Creative Award for China’s Home Textiles, the Most Scientific and Technological Innovation Award for China’s Home Textiles, the National Enterprise with Outstanding Quality and Integrity Commitment, etc…
��Looking back at Japan’s Muji, the road to brand development this year has been somewhat stumbling –
In January, a biscuit was detected to be genotoxic and carcinogenic in Hong Kong substances; in February, “natural water” produced in the previous seven months was recalled because potential carcinogens exceeded the standard; in July, Beijing reported the results of furniture quality sampling, and MUJI accounted for 6 out of 11 unqualified products; in September, Because the inappropriate term “French Concession” was used to describe the location of the event on Weibo, MUJI was listed on the hot search for two days…
There are so many disputes that some people joke that even if they want to “copycat”, they will not “copycat” such a brand.
The huge value condensed in trademarks is not only the result of the development of market economy, but also the reputation accumulated by merchants in the production and sales of goods. Although the saying “the aroma of wine is not afraid of the depth of the alley” is out of touch with the development of the times, “you need to be strong to make iron” will always be an unbreakable truth.
In Japanese, “MUJI” means “good products without brand marks”. Perhaps good products are the best medicine for all kinds of acclimatization.
Can Japanese MUJI products only use “MUJI” in the future?
As early as the first trial of the case, many self-media exclaimed: Japan’s Muji products will no longer be able to use the words “MUJI” in China!
This is really a big misunderstanding.
In fact, the product categories approved by the domestic MUJI registered trademark only include cotton fabrics, towels, sheets, bedspreads, quilts, pillowcases, quilt covers and other home textiles. Japanese MUJI Liangpin’s infringement was due to the words “MUJI Liangpin” being marked on products such as blankets and bedspreads. These products were sold between 2014 and 2015. After the Supreme Court made the final judgment, Japan’s Muji “knowingly committed the crime” and was determined by the court to be malicious.
To stop infringement is to no longer use “MUJI” within the scope of these products. It does not mean that it cannot be used from the door to various online and offline promotions. The actual impact of the case on Japan’s Muji is much smaller than the attention-grabbing news.
Further reading
The similarity is 99.99%
After checking, this “MUJI Natural Mill” is a brand of Beijing Cotton Textile Company.
The brand name, font, color and interior decoration are the same as the genuine Japanese MUJI products , not bad at all.
The door logo is in simplified Chinese, but the billboard at the door is in traditional Chinese.
Looking at this overall cold decoration style, it is really a copycat!
Sorry, take a closer look Look, this is about 99.9% similar!
Look at this neck pillow and this pillowcase, you can say it is “MUJI” , and quite a few people believe it.
The product styles are very similar, and the product stickers are also copied exactly.
How come there are so many “MUJI” brands that make textiles? Are pens of different colors sold?
Hey wait, this The textile company is so “versatile” that it actually sells snacks and skin care products? ?
Say that you are a national brand …
Beijing Muji is still in the online store and solemnly declares: “Our company is ‘MUJI’ ‘Trademark, the only legally authorized user in mainland China.”
load/News/image/2019/12/15/20191215100358475022.png”>
Hey wait, this textile company is a bit “versatile”, it actually sells snacks and skin care??
Say that you are a national brand …
Beijing Muji is still in the online store and solemnly declares: “Our company is ‘MUJI’ ‘Trademark, the only legally authorized user in mainland China.”
</ p