US based Fine Art Lamps filed a civil lawsuit with the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate Court against both the Zhongshan Great Beam Lighting and the Beijing Great Beam Lighting for infringement of its copyright in its catalogs and lamps in August of 2006, requesting for injunction, compensation of damages, public apology and reasonable investigation cost and attorney fees. The Beijing No. 2 Intermediate Court rendered its decision as the court of first instance on December 19, 2006 in favor of Fine Art Lamps.
Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court recognised that Fine Art Lamps’ products are artistic works with utilitarian function and therefore are also protected as copyrighted works.
Mr. Yu Jianyang and Mr. Yang Kai of Liu, Shen & Associates, who represented Fine Art Lamps in the litigation, complimented the court by deciding the case within 5 months after receiving it.
Read the article by Messrs. Yu and Yang here.
