A law book on judgements in intellectual property cases. Experts say the field is maturing and awards are increasing in value. Liu Junfeng / China Daily

Domestic companies ordered to pay hefty compensation to UK electric kettle maker

It proved to be more than a tempest in a teapot for two Chinese companies ordered to pay 9.1 million yuan in damages to Strix Ltd, a leading maker of electric kettle components based in the Isle of Man.

The ruling by a Beijing court earlier this year against Zhejiang Jiatai Electrical Appliance Manufacture and Leqing FaDa Electrical Equipment drew the attention of international media, which acclaimed it as progress in judicial protection for intellectual property in China.

The Financial Times quoted Paul Hussey, Strix chief executive, saying "we have increasing faith in China's legal system."

"This legal decision can be seen as a big step in the right direction for the Chinese judiciary regarding intellectual property, regardless of the country of origin of the plaintiff," the Telegraph cited Hussey as saying as well.

Windup radio inventor Trevor Baylis, who champions the rights of inventors, also welcomed the ruling and wrote to Fu Ying, former Chinese ambassador to Britain, to express his "thanks and gratitude" for the court's decision, according to the Mail online.

The court's decision to back the British firm rather than native businesses was a positive sign for future relations, Bayliss said.

"It means that we can trust the Chinese," he said.