Louis Vuitton Awarded 10M RMB in Trademark Dispute with Molly Tea
Suzhou court orders Molly Tea to pay 10 million yuan to Louis Vuitton for trademark infringement.
Why it matters: Luxury brands face ongoing challenges protecting intellectual property rights in China amid complex cultural and legal disputes. This case illustrates the difficulties of enforcing trademarks when traditional symbols overlap with commercial branding.
- On July 2, 2026, Suzhou Intermediate People's Court ruled Molly Tea infringed seven Louis Vuitton four-petal flower trademarks.
- Molly Tea was ordered to pay 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) in damages plus 300,000 yuan for legal expenses.
- Molly Tea must publish corrective statements on its website and social media platforms including Weibo and Douyin.
- Molly Tea’s founder Zhang Bocheng announced plans to appeal the ruling.
On July 2, 2026, the Suzhou Intermediate People's Court in Jiangsu Province found that Molly Tea infringed upon seven of Louis Vuitton's registered four-petal flower graphic trademarks. The court awarded Louis Vuitton 10 million yuan in economic damages, along with 300,000 yuan to cover legal expenses, totaling 10.3 million yuan. This decision underscores the Chinese judiciary's support for international luxury brands in protecting their intellectual property rights within the country.
Molly Tea, a Chinese tea chain operating over 2,000 stores worldwide as of November 2025, was also ordered to publish corrective statements on its official website and social media outlets such as Weibo, WeChat, RedNote, and Douyin. These measures aim to mitigate confusion and the impact of the trademark infringement on Louis Vuitton's brand identity.
Despite the ruling, Molly Tea’s founder Zhang Bocheng announced plans to appeal the decision. The dispute has sparked heated discussions online, with some Chinese netizens challenging the award by arguing that Louis Vuitton’s floral pattern resembles traditional Chinese designs dating back to the Tang Dynasty, thus questioning the legitimacy of the trademark enforcement. Critics say luxury brands appropriate ancient cultural symbols and use trademark law to assert ownership, complicating IP protection in markets rich with traditional motifs.
This case highlights the broader tension between global brand enforcement and cultural heritage in China’s evolving legal landscape. As luxury companies continue to seek robust protection for their trademarks, they must navigate sensitive issues surrounding traditional patterns and local business practices.
For more details, see the South China Morning Post and City News Service.
By the numbers:
- 10 million yuan — economic damages awarded to Louis Vuitton
- 300,000 yuan — legal expenses awarded to Louis Vuitton
- 2,000+ — number of Molly Tea stores worldwide as of November 2025
- July 2, 2026 — date of the court ruling
Yes, but: Molly Tea plans to appeal, highlighting the unresolved controversy over trademark rights versus traditional cultural patterns in China.
What's next: The appeal outcome will be closely watched as it may influence future IP enforcement and cultural heritage debates in China’s luxury market.