The Dakar Rally, often referred to simply as “The Dakar,” stands as one of the most gruelling and legendary events in motorsport history. Held annually, the Dakar Rally is known for its extreme challenges and the rugged endurance required of both vehicles and competitors. The Dakar Rally was conceived by French motorcycle racer Thierry Sabine. The inaugural rally, known as the Paris-Dakar Rally, took place in 1978, starting in Paris, France, and ending in Dakar, Senegal.

Del Monte Foods is a leading American food production and distribution company based in California. It is known for its popular brands like Del Monte, S&W, and Contadina. The company was founded in 1886, and the Del Monte brand was officially introduced in 1892. In 1916, the predecessor company, California Packing Corporation, also known as Calpak, which was formed through a merger of four large California canning companies, rebranded itself as Del Monte Corporation. The company began marketing its products under the Del Monte brand and expanded its operations to include canneries in various states and overseas.

In July 2017, Xiaomi launched a smart speaker with a voice activation command prompt (VACP) called ‘小爱同学’ (Xiao Ai Tong Xue), which later became the name of its AI-powered voice-interaction product. In August 2017, a Chinese person named Chen Xiong registered 小爱同学 as a trademark. Between then and June 2020, Chen filed for 66 marks in 21 classes and, after obtaining the registration, sent a cease-and-desist letter demanding Xiaomi to cease use of the mark. Chen then began to use the mark on watches and clocks.

The dispute between Lacoste and Cartelo, which has spanned over two decades and involved multiple court cases, has come to a new stage. Lacoste, a globally recognised brand known for its iconic right-facing crocodile logo, found itself embroiled in legal battles with Cartelo, a company that adopted a similar, left-facing crocodile symbol for its products.

On 1 February 2024, two regulations issued by the China National IP Administration (CNIPA) on 29 December 2023 will enter into effect. The regulations provide details on the registration, administration and protection of geographical indications (GIs).

On 26 September 2023 the Supreme People's Court of China issued a final judgment finding that Jiangxi Xinbailun Lingpao Sporting Goods Co Ltd and Guangzhou Xinbailun Lingpao Sporting Goods Co Ltd (collectively ‘Lingpao’) had infringed the iconic ‘N’ trademark of New Balance and the trade dress of New Balance Trading (China) Co Ltd, a subsidiary of New Balance, and had thus committed acts of trademark infringement and unfair competition.

On 8 November 2023 the Hubei High Court issued a judgment in the long-running Michelin saga, upholding the first-instance decision and clarifying some interesting aspects about well-known status of trademarks in China (2022 E Zhi Min Zhong no 190).

The dispute involved the Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC) - the French organisation responsible for promoting and safeguarding the geographical indication (GI) ‘Cognac’ - and the Chinese affiliates of Ford Motor Company, a prominent automotive supplier (hereinafter referred to as ‘Ford China’).

The Zhejiang High Court has upheld a first-instance decision that determined infringing use of a trade name that constituted unfair competition. The word ‘Michelin’, which is the name of a French company famous for its tyres, as well as the Michelin Guide, is written ‘米其林’in Chinese – pronounced ‘mi qi lin’. This Chinese name is registered, along with Michelin, in Classes 12 (tyres) and 16 (the guide).

Michelin tyres and the Michelin Guides are the two core product lines of the Michelin Group. The increasing popularity of Michelin in China recently led the company to take enforcement measures not only against tyre manufacturers or restaurants and catering businesses, but also against pet-related products and services.