On June 29, 2026, a Suzhou court ordered Chinese milk tea chain Molly Tea to pay Louis Vuitton $1.4 million in damages for trademark infringement.
The Suzhou Court Ruling and Trademark Infringement Penalties
The legal confrontation centers on visual similarities between luxury heritage and mass-market retail branding. On June 29, 2026, the Suzhou Intermediate People’s Court ordered Shenzhen Molly Tea Catering Management Co., Ltd. to pay Louis Vuitton Malletier RMB 10 million ($1.4 million) in damages. The court found that the milk tea chain infringed upon seven of the French luxury house’s registered four-petal flower trademarks.
In addition to the seven-figure damage award, the court ordered the Shenzhen-based company to pay RMB 300,000 in enforcement costs. According to the Suzhou Intermediate People’s Court in eastern China’s Jiangsu province, the Shenzhen-based brand Molly Tea must pay the amount within 10 days for damages resulting from its logo, which closely resembles LV’s four-petalled floral monogram. The judicial penalty required Molly Tea to publish corrective statements across its website and social media accounts. The court stated that LV’s monogram trademark enjoys a high level of global recognition and distinctiveness. The Chinese milk tea chain Molly Tea’s four-petal blossom logo closely mirrors the precise geometric and symmetrical structure of the iconic Louis Vuitton flower. Each distinct component within the LV pattern carries its own specific origin and aesthetic meaning.
Corporate Defense Strategies and Intellectual Property Hurdles
Since 2022, Molly Tea has submitted 17 trademark applications, including the disputed monogram pattern, to the China National Intellectual Property Administration, though all were rejected.
Faced with the judicial order and financial liabilities, representatives for the beverage chain indicated they intend to contest the outcome. Molly Tea says it will appeal, as reported by Shandian News, setting the stage for higher judicial review within the Chinese appellate system.
Public Backlash and Digital Debate Across Social Media
After a Chinese milk tea brand was ordered by a Suzhou court to pay Louis Vuitton 10.3 million yuan (US$1.5 million) for trademark infringement, many internet users expressed their support for the mainland company, with some claiming they have lost their positive impression of the luxury brand following the case. News of the verdict, announced in early July, has been viewed 400 million times on Weibo.
Instead of rallying behind the injured luxury trademark holder, many internet users expressed support for the domestic enterprise, with some commentators noting a decline in their positive impression of the luxury brand as a direct result of the litigation. Alongside a hashtag “Molly Tea lost the lawsuit but won the public’s heart,
” the topic attracted more than 30 million views on the platform, illustrating the complex reputational dynamics global conglomerates face when pursuing aggressive local enforcement.
Judy Yen, an attorney at Omnus Law Intellectual Property, noted that a Chinese court’s RMB 10 million trademark ruling against a milk tea chain shows why global brands must think beyond product categories, understand different trademark systems, and protect their marks before disputes arise.
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