“The First Bus Infringement Case” Decided

March 2, 2009

After a two-year trial, “the first bus infringement case” was decided by the First Intermediate People’s Court of Beijing. The domestic bus manufacturing companies were found to have infringed the German “Neoplan Starliner” design patent, and were assessed 21.160 million Yuan in damages.

Neoplan accused Yancheng Zhongwei Bus Manufacturing Co. Ltd. and Zhongda Industrial Group’s A9 series bus of infringing their design patent.

The First Intermediate People’s Court of Beijing found that the defendants infringed Neoplan’s patent and enjoined Beijing Zhongtong Xinghua Bus Selling Company from selling the related buses; enjoined Yancheng Zhongwei Bus Manufacturing Co. Ltd., and Zhongda Industrial Group from producing and selling related buses, and assessed 20 million Yuan in damages for lost profits, and 1.16 million Yuan for litigation costs.