Intel wins 400,000 yuan in trademark court case

INTEL Corp, the world's largest computer chip manufacturer, has won 400,000 yuan (US$63,511) in compensation from a Chinese company using a similar name, the Shanghai No.2 Intermediate People's Court said yesterday.

The US firm brought the trademark infringement lawsuit against Shenzhen Inteljet Digital Technology Co, in south China's Guangdong Province, saying the Chinese company's name was similar to its registered trademark.

Intel also accused Inteljet of printing the name on toner and cartridge products.

The chipmaker said its was a famous trademark and that Inteljet tarnished its reputation by imitating the name.

Intel asked Inteljet to stop using the name and sought damages.

Inteljet argued that its name was registered under a different trademark category to Intel. This was accepted by the court.

However, the court said whether Inteljet was infringing copyright depended on whether Intel was a famous trademark protected by the Chinese Trademark Law.

After reviewing the evidence, the court judged that Intel was indeed a famous trademark and ruled that Inteljet should pay compensation.

The court also said Inteljet manufactured computer-related products and intended to boost sales by using a name similar to Intel.

A local Inteljet distributor, surnamed Tao, was ordered by the court to contribute 4,000 yuan to the compensation.

Founded in 1968, Intel registered its name and logo as trademarks in 1985.

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