Full Breakdown
Molly Tea Ordered to Pay 10.3 million yuan for Infringing Louis Vuitton’s Four-Petal Monogram
7/6/2026, 7:58:10 AM
Core Event: Court Orders Damages and Logo Removal
A Suzhou Intermediate People’s Court in Jiangsu province ruled that Shenzhen-based beverage chain Molly Tea infringed seven Louis Vuitton trademarks by using a logo that closely mirrors the luxury house’s iconic four-petal floral monogram. The judgment required Molly Tea to cease using the disputed emblem, publish a public apology, and pay 10.3 million yuan in damages (10 million yuan for economic loss and 300,000 yuan for litigation costs).
Legal Background and Trademark Registration History
Molly Tea’s attempts to register a floral logo with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) were rejected in 2024, leaving only the Chinese characters for “Molly Tea” successfully registered. Louis Vuitton’s earlier registrations gave it cross-class protection under Chinese trademark law, a point highlighted by legal specialists.
Key Parties Involved
- Molly Tea – Shenzhen-based tea chain, >2,000 stores worldwide.
- Louis Vuitton Malletier – French luxury fashion house.
- Suzhou Intermediate People’s Court – Judicial body issuing the ruling.
- China Daily – State media outlet reporting the court order.
- Weibo, RedNote, Xiaohongshu, Douyin, WeChat – Platforms where the dispute generated public commentary.
Timeline of the Dispute
- May 2025 – Louis Vuitton files a civil lawsuit alleging trademark infringement.
- Early July 2025 – Suzhou court delivers its judgment, ordering damages and corrective actions.
- Following week – Molly Tea updates its digital branding (purple-hued logo with gold accent) and begins recruiting an IP legal specialist.
Financial and Operational Data
- Damages: 10.3 million yuan total (? US$1.5 million).
- Store footprint: >2,000 outlets in China and overseas markets including the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore.
- Social-media impact: Hashtag related to the case amassed over 400 million views and tens of thousands of comments across Weibo and other platforms.
Official Judicial Orders and Corporate Response
The court mandated that Molly Tea post a corrective statement on the homepages of its six primary digital channels (official website, Weibo, WeChat, Xiaohongshu, Douyin, and its mini-programme). The company subsequently introduced a three-dimensional, purple-and-gold logo to differentiate it from Louis Vuitton’s design. Internally, Molly Tea launched a recruitment drive for a legal manager specializing in intellectual-property matters, offering a monthly salary of 25,000–40,000 yuan on a 14-month pay structure.
Criticism & Opposition: Public Debate on Social Media
Netizens split over the ruling. Some argued that a luxury fashion label and a mass-market beverage chain operate in distinct sectors, while others cited the historical use of four-petal motifs in Chinese art. Critics emphasized that basic geometric shapes are common worldwide and questioned the fairness of cross-class protection.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Both Louis Vuitton and Molly Tea declined to provide comment to reporters, leaving the luxury house’s official stance undocumented. The precise date of the court’s decision is not specified in the sources.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Give me a break. They're just taking advantage of the fact that our ancestors didn't file for patents,” — Weibo user
- “drink a cup of Molly Tea daily” — Weibo user
- “Such basic geometric shapes have been used everywhere throughout history, not just China.” — RedNote user
- “study law first” — Weibo user
Implications for Chinese IP Enforcement
The case underscores the reach of early trademark registration in China, granting owners protection across product classes. It also illustrates how high-profile disputes can amplify public scrutiny of IP enforcement and influence corporate branding strategies.
What’s Next
Molly Tea’s recruitment of an IP legal specialist suggests a broader effort to audit and restructure its trademark portfolio. Ongoing monitoring of the company’s compliance with the court-ordered apology and logo changes will likely shape future interactions between domestic brands and foreign trademark holders in China.
