France's Danone to appeal Wahaha brand decision

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2007

SHANGHAI (AFP) — French food group Danone will demand a Chinese court cancel a decision that would hand the Wahaha brand back to its estranged joint venture partner, the firm's lawyer said Tuesday.

Citing errors in fact and protectionism, lawyers for Danone said they would appeal to a Chinese court to throw out the Hangzhou arbitration commission's decision to make null a trademark transfer agreement dating back to 1996.

"We will demand that the commission's decision be cancelled by the relevant court," said Tao Wuping, Danone's chief legal counsel told a press briefing in Shanghai.

"We have reason to suspect that there exists local protectionism," Tao said.

Danone on Monday lost a fight in a broad-ranging legal war against its former joint venture...