Moutai Sues an Upscale Restaurant for Selling Counterfeit Liquor

March 17, 2009

On February 16, China Kweichow Moutai Distillery Co., LTD sued Beijing Tianzan Food Service Co., LTD for selling Counterfeit Maotai liquor, in order to protect their trademark right. The Dongcheng District Court of Beijing ruled in favor of Maotai and awarded it 120,000 Yuan in compensation.

Tianzan is an upscale restaurant located in the News Building on Jianguomennei, selling Royal dishes, Yue dishes and Huaiyang dishes. On November 9, 2007, the Administration for Industry and Commerce discovered 72 bottles of Kweichow Moutai liquor and levied a penalty.

Maotai’s attorney said that it was the first time Maotai had found counterfeit liquor in an upscale restaurant in Beijing. Maotai had already enlisted a professional law firm to crack down on counterfeit liquor in upscale restaurants and protect their rights in the upscale market.