Supreme People’s Court suspends Castel damage award

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Supreme People’s Court suspends Castel damage award

The French wine maker, which had been found liable for infringing the mark of a Chinese winemaker, has received a temporary stay of the damage award handed out by the Zhejiang Higher People’s Court

Castel had been ordered to pay RMB33.73 million ($5.5 million) in damages to a wine importer who held the registration to a popular Chinese transliteration of its brand, Ka-Si-Te (卡斯特).

Castel appealed the decision to the Supreme People’s Court. According to Decanter.com, the court granted the stay after it found that the Zhejiang Higher People’s Court applied the law incorrectly.

The Supreme People’s Court’s decision is expected later this year.

Shanghai-based wine importer Panati and its subsidiary Cavesmaitre registered the Ka-Si-Te mark in 1998, which was approved in 2000. Castel started distributing its wine in China in 1999 using the Ka-Si-Te mark. Though it had registered the Latin alphabet “Castel” mark, it did not attempt do so for Ka-Si-Te.

In 2005, Castel initiated cancellation proceedings against Cavesmaitre for the Chinese mark on grounds of non-use. Cavesmaitre then counterclaimed for trade mark infringement, prevailing before the Zhejiang Intermediate People’s Court and then again on appeal to the provincial Higher People’s Court.

For Managing IP’s coverage and analysis of the case, click here.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Counsel explain how AI can create brand protection headaches, but also be used to fight fakes
An AI copyright update in the UK and IP protection efforts by Temu and WeChat were also among the top talking points this week
Mary Till says she has been helping clients navigate policy questions, including staffing concerns at the office
A seminal decision concerning second medical use patents and questions over confidentiality were among the top talking points this fortnight
Managing IP considers some of the key themes from the 2025 Annual Meeting and offers some tips for London 2026
A comparison of the 2024 and 2025 editions of the Managing IP EMEA Awards reveals the firms and companies that have been dominating Europe’s IP market year after year
Tuesday's coverage includes BD tips for aspiring partners, and a foray into the world of SEPs
Exclusive data reveals law firms are failing to go above and beyond for their corporate clients, with in-house counsel saying advisers should consider more transparent billing processes
Arty Rajendra and Gary Moss discuss why ‘thorough and intense’ preparation, plus the odd glass of wine, led to a record FRAND victory for their client
Monday’s coverage includes news of a potentially 'game-changing' trademark development in China and how practitioners are using AI
Gift this article