Features
Honda Wins “Hongda” Suit
A Beijing court has ordered a Chinese motorcycle manufacturer to pay 1.47 million yuan – approximately $177,607 – in damages to Japan’s Honda Motor Co. for placing “Hongda” logos on its product.
Chongqing Lifan Industry Group is the fourth largest cycle producer in China and reportedly produced 825,000 units in 2003. Chongqing Lifan used Chinese characters for “Hongda” in the name of the company in the past, but changed its name in 2001 after protests from Honda. Although the company removed “Hongda” from its name, it continued to use the “Hongda” logo on its product, which led to Honda filing legal action in July 2002.
The products in question were marketed in China and other countries in Southeast Asia.
