Guangdong Winnerway sues sports training group for trademark infringement



On the last day of January 2018, Guangdong Winnerway Group (广东宏远集团), the founder and owner of the CBA outfit Guangdong Southern Tigers, has sued Hongyuan Era Sports Industry Corp. (广东宏远时代体育产业集团) over trademark infringements. 

Reportedly, Guangdong Winnerway Group’s subsidiaries, Guangdong Southern Tigers Basketball Club and Guangdong Winnerway Sports Development Co., Ltd have also joined the Group as suitors in this case. 

They have required Hongyuan Era to cease the use of the latter’s trademark, “宏远”, as well as making a public apology and paying RMB 90m as compensation to the three suitors. 

Additionally, the suitors have also stated that they would not accept any reconciliation terms with Hongyuan Era.

Founded in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province and now headquartered in Beijing, Hongyuan Era is a company focusing on offering sports training courses and programs. 

Last year, the company was renamed as “动因体育 (Doing Now Sports)” and raised RMB 500m in its A financing round. However, the trademark currently featured on its official website still remains as “Hongyuan Era”. 

The Beijing Intellectual Property Court has accepted this case and what is worth emphasizing is that the Court has summoned Hongyuan Era twice over this case in January 2018, but the latter has yet to reply up to now. 

Source: NetEase

Proofread by Raymond Fitzpatrick