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Sanrio Co., Ltd. v. Lin Cheng-pin (Hung Sheng Fashion Co.)

A Taiwan enforcement matter. Sanrio sought treble damages of NT$2,153,250; the court awarded roughly a quarter of that and refused to multiply.

Sanrio Co., Ltd.,
Plaintiff,
v.
Lin Cheng-pin (responsible person, Hung Sheng Fashion Co.),
Defendant.
Docket No.(88) Su Tzu No. 10
CourtTaiwan High Court (Civil)
Filed1998
StatusDecided

The record

Court
Taiwan High Court (Civil)
Jurisdiction
Taiwan
Docket No.
(88) Su Tzu No. 10
Filed
1998
Resolved
1999
Sanrio’s role
Plaintiff
Type
Counterfeiting
Claims
Trademark infringement; Unfair competition (Fair Trade Law Art. 32(1))
Counsel — plaintiff/petitioner
not public
Counsel — Sanrio side
not public

What happened

A Taiwan enforcement matter. Sanrio sought treble damages of NT$2,153,250; the court awarded roughly a quarter of that and refused to multiply.

Outcome

Liability found over 2,475 counterfeit "Hello Kitty & Device" garments. Court awarded NT$581,625 plus interest and declined treble damages, citing the defendant’s criminal sentence, pre-sale seizure, and limited actual injury.

The legal nuance

Illustrates courts’ restraint on Fair Trade Law treble damages even where infringement is intentional.

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