A Chinese court has ordered popular tea brand Molly Tea to pay $1.5 million to Louis Vuitton after ruling that its logo copied the luxury fashion house’s trademark, sparking a heated online debate over intellectual property rights.
A Chinese court has ordered popular bubble tea chain Molly Tea to pay 10.3 million yuan ($1.5 million) in damages to French luxury brand Louis Vuitton after ruling that the company’s logo infringed the fashion house’s trademark.
The ruling, delivered by a court in Suzhou, eastern China, also requires the Shenzhen-based tea company to stop using the disputed logo and issue a public apology, according to Chinese state media.
The case has sparked widespread discussion across Chinese social media, with a hashtag related to the dispute attracting more than 400 million views and tens of thousands of comments.
According to reports, the court found that Molly Tea copied Louis Vuitton’s signature four-petal flower design, which has long been associated with the luxury brand.
China Daily also reported that Molly Tea and its affiliated companies had submitted several trademark applications that were rejected by the China National Intellectual Property Administration. Only the trademark featuring the Chinese characters for “Molly Tea” was approved.
The BBC said it had contacted both Molly Tea and Louis Vuitton for comment.
The court’s decision has divided opinion online.
Many social media users defended Molly Tea, arguing that simple floral and geometric designs have existed for centuries and should not belong exclusively to one company.
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One Weibo user said they would continue supporting the tea brand.
“I will drink a cup of Molly Tea every day to show my support,” the user wrote.
Another commenter argued that many luxury brands have borrowed inspiration from traditional Chinese art.
“They’re just taking advantage of the fact that our ancestors didn’t file for patents,” the user said.
On another social media platform, RedNote, one user added:
“Such basic geometric shapes have been used everywhere throughout history, not just China.”
Others, however, backed the court’s ruling, saying trademark laws should be respected regardless of the industry involved.
One Weibo user argued that supporters of Molly Tea should first understand intellectual property law.
“There is no dispute because Louis Vuitton had already registered the logo,” the user wrote.
Another said Louis Vuitton had every right to protect its trademark and that other businesses should not imitate it simply because they operate in a different sector.
The case has reignited discussions in China over trademark protection, brand identity and the balance between creative inspiration and intellectual property rights.
