HARTING takes action against Chinese patent infringers
Patent infringements and plagiarism represent major problems in China, especially for the manufacturers of brand products. The Harting Technology Group
has taken resolute action against a Chinese company that had copied its
connectors. Following in-depth investigations, the Espelkamp (Germany)
headquartered company took recourse to the Shanghai Second Intermediate
Court and initiated legal proceedings for damage and injunction in
connection with patent infringements.
After proceedings of only four months the Shanghai court passed a
judgment confirming the patent infringement and sentencing the
respective manufacturer to discontinue the production and sales of the
counterfeit products, as well as imposing the payment of damages.
The court judgment is an important positive signal for Harting, as
this action not only weakens the market position of the opponent, but
also issues a warning to current and future patent infringers.
Harting is a globally active company and holds a particularly strong
position on Asian markets. The Technology Group has filed patents in
China since the beginning of the nineties, although their actual
enforceability has been doubtful to date. The outcome of the recent
proceedings demonstrates that intellectual property is also being
protected in China in the meantime. In taking resolute action, they have
clearly demonstrated that the company will assert its intellectual
property rights internationally and will not hesitate to take recourse
to all respective legal measures - now and in future.
