The case between Unilever and a natural person Ma Jihui has made new progress recently. Unilever told us that the Trademark Review and Adjudication Board (TRAB) under the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) revoked Ma's registration of No. 5210730 trademark "丽仕" recently.
Ma filed suit on August 2010, challenging Unilever and its distributors over infringement of his trademark "丽仕" to the Guangzhou Baiyun District People's Court.

In 2006, Ma applied for registration of trademark for "丽仕", certified to be used on Class 3, the good of shampoo and obtained registration in 2009. He belived that Unilever used the disputed trademark "麗仕" on the same kind of products which infringed his trademark right.

However, before Ma, the trademark holder of "丽仕", made his move, Unilever had lodged an opposition to the TRAB on the ground of similarity to its registered trademark of "力士" in April 2010.

Based on the evidences furnished by Unilever, TRAB held that the two trademarks were similar in appearance and pronunciation and used on the same products. In addition, "力士" had high reputation and the trademark of "丽仕" would easily cause confusion among consumers. So ordered.

(Source: China IP News)