• Molly Tea ordered to pay 10.3 million yuan ($1.5 million) for unauthorized logo use.
• The court ruling has sparked significant online debate in China.
• Molly Tea plans to appeal the decision and has updated its logo.

Molly Tea, a prominent Chinese tea chain, has been mandated by the Suzhou Intermediate People’s Court to pay 10.3 million yuan (approximately $1.5 million) to Louis Vuitton for trademark infringement involving a logo resembling the French luxury brand’s four-petalled floral monogram. The court has stipulated that the amount must be paid within ten days, which includes 10 million yuan for economic losses and 300,000 yuan for litigation costs, according to Channel News Asia and Bangkok Post.

The ruling has ignited widespread discussion on social media in China, with the associated hashtag garnering over 400 million views. Some netizens defended Molly Tea by arguing that many Western luxury brand designs derive inspiration from Chinese artifacts, while others criticized the infringement, emphasizing the need to respect registered trademarks. A user on Weibo admitted, "Give me a break. They're just taking advantage of the fact that our ancestors didn't file for patents," reflecting a common sentiment among supporters, according to BBC and Bangkok Post.

Molly Tea has announced its intention to appeal the court's decision and has made updates to its logo, shifting from a black-and-white design to a colored version. Additionally, the court mandated that Molly Tea publicly apologize across its six official accounts and social media platforms to mitigate the infringement's repercussions, as detailed by Channel News Asia and BBC.

Founded in 2021, Molly Tea boasts over 2,000 stores globally, with locations in countries including the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, the Company has faced challenges in securing trademark protection in China, with applications for new trademarks reportedly rejected by the China National Intellectual Property Administration, according to BBC and Channel News Asia.