Swiss Longines Institutes a proceeding against infringing domain names

Recently the well-known Swiss watch company Longines instituted a proceeding against Shenyang Zhongxu Trade Co. Ltd. and a natural person Zeng, the owners of the two domain names "longines.com.cn" and "longines.cn." Beijing HiChina Technology Co. Ltd., the domain name service provider, was also listed as a defendant. The Beijing 2nd Intermediate People's Court has accepted the case.

According to Longines, in 1880, it registered the trademark "Longines" in Switzerland and in 1959 it registered the mark in China, covering watches. Later Longines also registered the English mark "Longines" and the Chinese mark "浪琴" in China, covering goods in other classes. Through a great deal of advertising, "Longines" has become a famous trademark in China and throughout the world.

Shenyang Zhongxu Trade Co. Ltd. and Zeng registered the domain names "longines.com.cn" and "longines.cn" through Beijing HiChina Technology Co. Ltd. Longines stated that the defendants' acts infringed its trademark and trade name and constituted unfair competition. Longines requested that the defendants should transfer the two disputed domain names to Longines.