By
(Hong Kong, 14 January 2014) Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited ("Chow Tai Fook" or the "Company"; collectively with its subsidiaries, the "Group"; HKEx Stock Code: 1929), the world's largest pure-play jeweller by market capitalisation with over 80 years' heritage, strongly warns in a statement that the infringement of "Bao Bao Family" collection, the Company's original proprietary products, is getting more serious and that counterfeits and imitations have been found continuously in the Mainland of China.
The original proprietary collection "Bao Bao Family" ("Bao Bao Family") of Chow Tai Fook ("the Company") has become popular in the market ever since it was launched in 2002. In recent years, "Bao Bao Family" has continuously been counterfeited and replicated illegally in the market and offered in stores and online platforms run by jewellery retailers in the Mainland of China. The infringement of "Bao Bao Family" has become increasingly serious. Such mal-practice is not only a breach of industry order and best practice, harming consumers' rights and Chow Tai Fook's legal rights, but also an unlawful infringement conduct cheating consumers.
Without the consent or authorisation from Chow Tai Fook , infringers including jewellery retailers and online traders on Taobao have been knowingly infringing the Company's intellectual property rights, including intentionally replicating the "Bao Bao Family" product concept of featuring lovely angels with different blessings, illegally counterfeiting or copying the design; and using the name, packaging and decoration of the famous and popular product "Bao Bao Family" without the Company's permission; manufacturing and selling the same; deceiving consumers with replicas, counterfeits and/or imitations. Such serious unethical business and unfair competition behaviours have significantly infringed the Company's copyrights, trademarks and other economic interests.
The Company has already instructed lawyers to conduct investigations and collect evidence in the Mainland of China. Preliminary findings indicated that numerous Mainland and Hong Kong jewellery shops are selling infringing products illegally. The Company has started taking legal actions against these infringers to pursue all damages incurred to Chow Tai Fook arising from their infringement conducts.
The Company reiterates that "Bao Bao Family" is Chow Tai Fook's original proprietary products. The Company owns all the intellectual property rights related to "Bao Bao Family", including trademarks and copyright. Apart from the official sale platforms including the Chow Tai Fook Points of Sale, Chow Tai Fook Official eShops, and Chow Tai Fook Authorised E-commerce Platforms listed below, the Company has NOT authorised or consigned any other jewellery traders or agents to sell Chow Tai Fook's products (including the "Bao Bao Family") in the market or on e-commerce platforms such as Taobao. The Company hereby reminds consumers to purchase authentic "Bao Bao Family" products through the Company's official sales channels listed below to protect their own interests. All authentic products by Chow Tai Fook are marked with "CTF" trademark at the bottom or on the back and should be attached with original official receipts issued by Chow Tai Fook.
Chow Tai Fook Statement on Infringement of "Bao Bao Family" Collection
14 January 2014
Chow Tai Fook Points of Sale:
