Copyright claim success for Jaguar Land Rover in China

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), designers and manufacturers of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles has recently announced that it has been successful with a legal action made in China for copyright infringement.

The copyright claim was originally made by JLR in 2016 against Chinese manufacturer Jiangling Motors Corp, based on Jiangling’s design and manufacture of a vehicle that closely resembles the Range Rover Evoque.

Even though the copying of designs by Chinese manufacturers is well known and widespread across many sectors including automotive, legal action is relatively rare as even with the legal resources that big brands can deploy, the prospects of success in Chinese courts is considered to be low. In addition, there can often be a perception amongst the Chinese public of their local manufacturers being ‘bullied’ by foreign brands, which can adversely affect sales.

Last week the Beijing Chaoyang District Court said that most recent version of the Land Rover Evoque, launched in 2018, had 5 unique features that were copied directly by Jiangling Motors’ Landwind X7, leading to widespread confusion amongst consumers in China. It was observed that the two SUV’s have a similar shape overall, with almost identical tail lights and styling features on the side panelling. The court ruling decreed that all sales, manufacturing and marketing of the Landwind vehicle must stop with immediate effect, and that JLR should be compensated financially.

Help with copyright disputes

If you are thinking about taking legal action over an IP or copyright dispute but are worried about the costs of resolving the dispute or going to court, Advantage Litigation Services can help. We have vast experience navigating the different ways of funding commercial dispute resolution and are best placed to help you identify the most appropriate funding option and litigation protection that will best benefit you and your business. Click here to contact us or call 0800 160 1298 to discuss how we can help you manage the risks and find a funding option that works for you.