On January 20, Gaohe Automobile published an article "Statement on Trademark Protection" under its public account today.
It is understood that due to the "collision" between the figurative trademark newly applied for by Renault and the trademark of Gaohe, Gaohe issued a lawyer's letter to Renault without success, and applied for a temporary injunction order from the German court. The following is the original text of the announcement:
Recently, Gaohe Automobile Sales service Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Gaohe Automobile") received inquiries from users and the media about Renault Automobile's use of the new trademark, and hereby issued this statement.
In August 2018, Gaohe Automobile's parent company, Huaren Express Holdings (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Huaren Express"), registered and protected graphic trademarks (hereinafter referred to as "HiPhi icons") in major global markets (including the European Union), incorporated HiPhi icons into the designs of many automotive products and applied for global patent layout protection; Gaohe Automobile has obtained authorization from Huaren Express to use these trademarks.
Renault S.A.S., which applied for two figurative trademarks in the European Union and China, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Brazil, Russia and other countries (hereinafter referred to as "Renault Icon") since January 2021, applied for a complete vehicle appearance patent containing the Renault icon in China in June 2021, and has used the Renault icon on its official website, auto show and other occasions.
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Gaohe Automobile believes that the Similarity between the Renault icon and the HiPhi icon (especially in the case of rotating parts and different angles of observation) has brought certain uncertainties to the brand development of Gaohe Automobile and the ongoing Business Expansion Plan in Europe.
In October 2021, after sending a lawyer's letter to the author of a no-show, Huaren Express obtained a provisional injunction from a German court upon application; Renault Deutschland AG was asked to suspend the use of the Renault icon in Germany.
The parties are currently in the midst of routine court hearings, trademark oppositions and cancellation proceedings. When the conditions are ripe, Huaren Express and Gaohe Automobile will disclose the results of relevant legal procedures to Volkswagen.
This statement aims to state the facts related to the use of the trademark between the two parties, avoid confusion among Gaohe Automobile users and investors about the similarity of the brand, and does not make any judgment or implication on whether there is infringement; Huaren Express and Gaohe Automobile will protect their rights and interests through all appropriate legal remedies, and will follow and respect the relevant effective rulings. (Fast Technology)