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BEIJING - AFTER years of worry that it might have to pull out of China because of disputes over its logo, Singapore apparel retailer Crocodile International is now secure on the mainland.
The Beijing Higher People's Court rejected French sportswear maker Lacoste's claims that Crocodile's trademark was too similar to its own, thus constituting copyright infringement, and that the 60-year-old Singapore company should not be allowed to register or use its logo in China.
In its ruling last month, the Beijing court found that Crocodile's trademark, registered as Cartelo Crocodile on the mainland - featuring the word 'Cartelo' and a small left-facing crocodile insignia - is 'distinguishable' from Lacoste's.
While both brands use a small crocodile figure in their logos, Lacoste's crocodile faces right, while Crocodile's looks left.
Globally, Lacoste is the larger of the two and is worth about US$1.8 billion (S$2.6 billion), Time Magazine reported in 2005. It is sold in more than 109 countries.
Crocodile has a presence in at least 13 countries, including Malaysia, Japan and Thailand. Its worldwide sales, including licensees' retail sales, hit US$350 million in 2005.
The recent court decision means that Crocodile's 14-year struggle to register its Cartelo Crocodile trademark in China is over, and that the company is able to continue to market and sell its products - which range from apparel to shoes - using the logo.
Read the full report in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.
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