Binzhou City has released its top ten typical cases of intellectual property administrative protection for the year 2025. This initiative aims to fully leverage the exemplary, guiding, and deterrent effects of these cases, thereby further strengthening administrative protection for intellectual property rights. The cases were published by the Binzhou Municipal Market Supervision Administration.
This batch of cases covers administrative rulings on patent infringement disputes, as well as investigations and penalties for trademark and copyright infringements. The cases focus on key sectors of public concern, such as apparel, baijiu (white spirits), and food products. They are highly representative and carry significant social impact, playing a positive role in standardizing market order and optimizing the business environment.
**Case 1: Fitness Studio in Bincheng District Infringes "Y TWO女子健身" Trademark** The Bincheng District Market Supervision Bureau received a complaint from the trademark holder. Starting January 2025, a fitness studio in the district listed fitness service products on platforms such as Douyin and Meituan, using the mark "Y-Two fit" in its product images and promotional videos. This identifier was deemed similar to the registered trademark "Y TWO女子健身" (No. 69933472), held by Qingdao Jisu Mohe Health Management Co., Ltd., which is approved for use in Class 41 services including sports training and fitness services. After investigation, the bureau determined that the use of "Y-Two fit" in online platform promotions constituted trademark use as defined by Article 48 of the Trademark Law of the People's Republic of China and violated Article 57(2) by infringing on the exclusive rights of a registered trademark. The illegal business revenue was 2,174 yuan. In accordance with Article 60(2) of the Trademark Law, the bureau ordered the cessation of the infringement and imposed an administrative fine of 2,000 yuan.
**Case 2: Liquor Store in Zhanhua District Sells Counterfeit "Wuliangye" Baijiu** On June 16, 2025, following a consumer complaint, the Zhanhua District Market Supervision Bureau conducted an inspection at a liquor store. The complainant alleged purchasing 56 bottles of "Wuliangye" baijiu from the store starting May 25, 2025, which were suspected to be counterfeit. During the inspection, 20 bottles labeled as "Wuliangye" were found on the premises. Identification by Sichuan Yibin Wuliangye Group Co., Ltd. confirmed that these 20 bottles, along with 55 bottles submitted by the complainant (56 total, with one empty bottle not tested), were all counterfeit products infringing its registered trademark. The store operator failed to provide legitimate proof of source, such as supplier qualifications or purchase invoices. The operator was solely engaged in selling pre-packaged food but had not filed with the market supervision department as required by law, failed to perform obligatory进货查验 (purchase inspection) duties, and did not clearly mark prices for the goods sold. The Zhanhua District Bureau determined the operator violated Article 57(3) of the Trademark Law by selling goods that infringed on exclusive trademark rights; violated Article 5 of the Food Business License and Filing Management Measures by failing to file for pre-packaged food operations; violated Article 53 of the Food Safety Law by not performing purchase inspections; and violated Article 13 of the Price Law by not clearly marking prices. The bureau ordered corrective actions and imposed administrative penalties including a warning, confiscation of 16 bottles of the involved "Wuliangye" baijiu, and a fine of 69,106.88 yuan.
**Case 3: Wang in Zouping City Sells Counterfeit "ZWILLING" Branded Glassware** On November 25, 2024, based on a procuratorial opinion transferred by the procuratorial organ, the Zouping City Market Supervision Bureau investigated Wang for suspected sales of counterfeit trademarked products. The investigation revealed that Wang, aware that the glassware supplied by an upstream vendor was counterfeit "ZWILLING" brand products, repeatedly purchased and sold them. Prior judicial investigation confirmed the goods were indeed counterfeit, infringing on exclusive trademark rights, with sales amounting to 157,302.87 yuan. The Zouping City Bureau found Wang's actions violated Article 57(3) of the Trademark Law, constituting the illegal act of selling goods that infringe on exclusive trademark rights. On April 11, 2025, pursuant to Article 60(2) of the Trademark Law, an administrative fine of 100,000 yuan was imposed.
**Case 4: Huimin County Handles Design Patent Infringement Dispute for "Entertainment Equipment (Rope-woven Donut)"** The petitioner obtained the design patent for "Entertainment Equipment (Rope-woven Donut)" on December 25, 2018 (Patent No.: ZL201830495878.6). In May 2025, the petitioner discovered that products displayed by the respondent in a Beijing exhibition and corporate catalogues allegedly fell within the scope of their patent protection. In August 2025, the petitioner found the respondent promoting video recordings of the exhibition products online, actions which infringed the petitioner's patent rights and harmed their legitimate interests. The petitioner subsequently filed a request with the Huimin County Market Supervision Bureau, demanding the immediate cessation of the infringement. The bureau accepted and registered the case. Through on-site evidence collection and comparative analysis by a technical investigation officer for administrative rulings on patent disputes, it was adjudicated that the accused design was identical in overall visual effect to the patented design and fell within its protection scope. Based on Article 65 of the Patent Law of the People's Republic of China and Article 25 of the Shandong Provincial Patent Regulations, the respondent was ordered to immediately cease infringing the design patent rights for "Entertainment Equipment (Rope-woven Donut)".
**Case 5: Food Company in Yangxin County Infringes "Nestlé" Trademark** On March 26, 2025, following a tip-off, the Yangxin County Market Supervision Bureau inspected a local food company. The investigation found that the company had been engaged in food production and sales since December 2021. On September 30, 2024, it accepted a commission from Zhao of Henan Province to produce "Yu Han Xiang" brand chicken essence compound seasoning, using packaging box logos identical to Nestlé's registered trademark (No. 1341443). Additionally, it had previously accepted a commission from a Hangzhou client to produce "Xiang Qian" brand chicken essence compound seasoning, whose packaging bag design was similar in color and pattern to Nestlé's registered trademark (No. 7088329). Both products belong to Class 30 "convenience foods," the same category as the registered trademarks involved. The company could not provide trademark registration certificates or authorization proofs from the clients. The illegal business revenue was 9,868 yuan, with illegal gains of 888 yuan. The Yangxin County Bureau determined the company's actions violated Articles 57(1) and (2) of the Trademark Law, constituting trademark infringement. Pursuant to Article 60(2) of the Trademark Law, the bureau ordered the confiscation of 196 undelivered boxes of "Yu Han Xiang" products, 500 related packaging boxes, 500 "Xiang Qian" packaging bags, confiscation of illegal gains amounting to 888 yuan, and imposed a fine of 10,000 yuan.
**Case 6: Brewing Company in Yangxin County Infringes "Shede" Three-Dimensional Trademark for Baijiu** On June 26, 2025, the Yangxin County Market Supervision Bureau received a report alleging that a local brewing company was producing and selling baijiu that infringed on the exclusive rights of trademarks (Nos. 7376477, 35803919, 35819263) held by Shede Liquor Co., Ltd. Verification confirmed these trademarks are registered for Class 33 goods including "baijiu" and were valid. On July 2, 2025, inspectors conducted an on-site check at the company's premises and found 13 cases of baijiu labeled "品鉴" (for tasting) in the bottling workshop. The product's design elements – including the shape of the outer box, color layering, layout of the vertical grid logo, gradient text effects, as well as the bottle's stout cylindrical shape, inverted frustum cap, and gently sloping shoulder – were highly similar to the three-dimensional trademark and overall packaging of Shede's "Zhihui Shede" product. Given that both are similar goods and the "Shede" brand enjoys high market recognition, this similarity was sufficient to cause consumer confusion. The illegal business revenue was 2,040 yuan, with no illegal gains. The Yangxin County Bureau found the company's actions violated Article 57(2) of the Trademark Law. Based on Article 60(2) of the Trademark Law and referencing relevant provisions of the Shandong Provincial Market Supervision Administrative Penalty Discretion Benchmark, the company was ordered to correct the violation, and penalties included confiscation of 13 cases of infringing baijiu and a fine of 1,000 yuan.
**Case 7: Sportswear Store in Wudi County Sells Counterfeit "NIKE" and "ADIDAS" Apparel** On March 18, 2025, the Wudi County Market Supervision Bureau received a case clue transferred by the County People's Procuratorate, indicating that Gu was suspected of selling apparel infringing the "NIKE" and "ADIDAS" trademarks. Investigation revealed that Gu and her husband Cui had jointly operated "a sportswear store in Wudi County" (business license注销 cancelled on April 8, 2024). From 2020 to 2024, the store purchased counterfeit "NIKE" and "ADIDAS" apparel from Yu for resale. On March 29, 2024, both individuals were apprehended by public security authorities. Public security investigation and identification by the trademark holders confirmed the sold goods were infringing products. The determined sales amount was 60,107 yuan, the value of unsold inventory was 48,130 yuan, resulting in a total case value of 108,237 yuan. Illegal gains of 20,000 yuan had been fully refunded by the parties during criminal proceedings. Based on evidence including public security investigation materials, the procuratorate's "Procuratorial Opinion," rights holder identification reports, and sales records, which formed a complete evidence chain, the Wudi County Bureau pursued liability for infringements during the business's operational period even after its deregistration. Pursuant to Article 60(2) of the Trademark Law, an administrative fine of 54,118.5 yuan was imposed.
**Case 8: Boxing County Handles Utility Model Patent Infringement Dispute for "Pre-mixed Multi-hole Burner and Gas Stove Increasing Combustion Area"** On September 20, 2024, a petitioner filed a request with the Boxing County Market Supervision Bureau regarding a utility model patent infringement dispute for "A pre-mixed multi-hole burner and gas stove that can increase the combustion area" (Patent No.: ZL202021081750.3), accusing a stove parts factory in Boxing County, Shandong, of infringement. The bureau accepted the case. During proceedings, the respondent filed an invalidation request for the involved patent with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) on October 22, 2024, which was accepted, leading the bureau to suspend the case. On August 20, 2025, CNIPA declared the patent entirely invalid. After resuming proceedings on September 2, 2025, and based on Article 47 of the Patent Law which states that "a patent right that has been declared invalid shall be deemed non-existent from the outset," the bureau rejected all of the petitioner's claims. The petitioner was informed that if subsequent judicial proceedings overturn the invalidation decision and confirm the patent's validity, a new ruling request could be filed.
**Case 9: Trading Company in Binzhou Economic Development Zone Sells Counterfeit "Vital 28" Laundry Detergent** On September 2, 2025, market regulatory authorities in the Binzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone conducted an inspection at a trading company based on a complaint. Inspectors found 12 bags of product labeled "Vital 28 Shanmo Flower Scent Laundry Liquid" on warehouse shelves. The outer packaging lacked anti-counterfeiting codes, and barcode scans yielded no valid information. Identification by the trademark holder confirmed the batch infringed on exclusive trademark rights. The company's actions violated Article 57(3) of the Trademark Law. Pursuant to Article 60(2) of the Trademark Law and referencing the Shandong Provincial Market Supervision Administrative Penalty Discretion Benchmark, penalties included confiscation of the 12 bags of infringing detergent and a fine of 1,000 yuan.
**Case 10: Sun Distributes Publications Infringing Copyright or Exclusive Publishing Rights** On February 8, 2025, based on a report, law enforcement officers from the Binzhou Culture and Tourism Bureau inspected a fast-food restaurant near a school. On-site, they found 881 copies of 26 types of publications, including "Big Lin and Little Lin," "Little Hedgehog," and "No Brain and Not Happy." The store manager, Sun, could not provide legitimate purchase/sales records or authorization proofs from rights holders for these publications and admitted to selling pirated books. All 881 publications were seized, and 9 randomly selected types were sent for identification to rights holders including People's Education Press and Zhejiang Children's Press. The examination confirmed the submitted books were infringing pirated publications. Sun's actions violated Item 3, Article 20 of the Publication Market Management Regulations. Based on Article 53 of the Copyright Law of the People's Republic of China and Article 33 of the Publication Market Management Regulations, penalties included confiscation of the 881 infringing publications and a fine of 30,000 yuan.
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