Litigators of the Week: How Finnegan Duo Won a Trademark Case for Under Armour in China

The AmLaw Litigation Daily named Finnegan partners Danny Awdeh and Doug “Chip” Rettew as “Litigators of the Week” for a rare trademark infringement win in China on behalf of Under Armour. Working with Chinese co-counsel Chang Tsi & Partners, the team first prevailed on behalf of Under Armour before the People’s Higher Court of Fujian Province. On appeal, the Supreme People’s Court in Beijing affirmed the lower court’s ruling that Chinese competitor Uncle Martian must cease the use of its copycat “UM” logo on its footwear and apparel and destroy all infringing products and documents. Additionally, the company will be required to pay nearly $300,000 in damages to Under Armour and publish a court-approved statement on the SINA/Webio website.

The case is significant because less than 1% of similar cases brought by U.S. companies in China achieve such results. In an interview with The AmLaw Litigation Daily, Danny and Doug discuss how they were able to prevail in such a rare occurrence, what the decision means for brand owners, and lessons learned.

Read the full interview here.