Honda sues 11 Chinese automakers for copying designs
Posted: 11:11 AM | Dec. 09, 2004




TOKYO-Honda has sued two Chinese automakers and plans to take action against nine more for allegedly copying exterior designs of its popular CR-V sport utility vehicle, a company spokeswoman said Thursday.

Japan's third largest automaker filed a suit against Shijiazhuang Shuanghuan Automobile in the Beijing High People's Court seeking to stop the Chinese company's production of the S-RV.



The S-RV has a striking resemblance to Honda's CR-V but is being sold "at a very low price" compared with the Honda model, which is on the Chinese market through a joint venture, the Honda Motor spokeswoman said.

The action was taken in November 2003 but the ruling has yet to come, the spokeswoman said.

This October, Honda also began legal proceedings against Hebei Xinkai Automobile Manufacturing for allegedly copying the C-RV, the spokeswoman said.

"We will take legal action against nine other companies if we cannot solve this matter through consultations," she said.

"We will deal with the issue of intellectual property squarely," she said.

China has been routinely singled out as one of the world's most flagrant counterfeiters, with the US Chamber of Commerce warning in September that US businesses could back trade action against China unless Beijing better enforces copyright laws.

Honda has already filed 51 other suits in China since 1997 in hopes of stopping alleged design infringement by motorcycle and parts makers.

khet kelan talga dme pirated sa CHINA :hihihi: