HBO, the U.S. premium cable and satellite television network, has sued a restaurant in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province for infringing its trademark.
The restaurant, named HBO Studio Restaurant, has been running its business in the city for five years, and registered the trademark HBO on July 4, 2012, earlier than the U.S. company's registration in China.
The co-owner of the restaurant Zhang Jian said that his establishment is licensed to do business in the catering industry, while the U.S. company focuses on the film and television industry. There is no direct conflict of interest in this case, Zhang said.
The U.S. company sent a legal notice to the restaurant, together with documents to back up its trademark infringement claims, while HBO Studio Restaurant enlisted the help of a trademark agency to help mount its defense.
China's top court ruled in December of last year that three trademarks registered by Fujian-based Qiaodan Sportswear had violated the rights of basketball legend Michael Jordan.
