Cartier sues China's largest online supermarket

Cartier has sued the operator of China's largest online supermarket, Yihaodian, and two Beijing companies for trademark infringements.

The luxury jewelry and watch manufacturer said the companies caused irreparable harm to its brand.

The lawsuit against Yishiduo E-Commerce Co in Shanghai and Mengkela Technology and Huixintianyuan Trade Co in Beijing was filed with Pudong New Area People's Court in Shanghai.

According to court documents, the Paris-based Cartier accused Yishiduo of purchasing jewelry from Huixintianyuan and selling it on its online supermarket, Yihaodian, as Cartier products.

Diamond traders Mengkela were also accused of selling pieces as Cartier products on Yihaodian, as well as advertising itself as a trading partner of Cartier, said Fu Xinzhen, a spokesman for Pudong court.

Cartier demanded 550,000 yuan in damages from each company.

After hearing the case, the court ordered Mengkela to pay Cartier 130,000 yuan for trademark infringements, with Yishiduo and Huixintianyuan ordered to pay 50,000 yuan.

It is not the first time a Chinese online store has been involved in a trademark dispute. Taobao, the largest e-marketplace, was sued in Shanghai No 1 Intermediate People's Court in April last year after Nippon Paint found unauthorized dealers using its trademark and print advertisement.

Cartier sued United States' online "flash sale" retailer HauteLook in 2010, accusing it of damaging the luxury goods maker's brand by selling damaged and secondhand Cartier merchandise without permission.