A company run by Bruce Lee's daughter sues a fast-food chain over its use of Bruce Lee's image without permission. The firm is seeking compensation for $30 million. The fast-food chain has been asked to stop using the image and issued a 90-day clarification notice.
Key Takeaways:
- The fast-food chain says national authority approved the logo, and the company has been using the logo for 15 years.
- The Bruce Lee Enterprises asks the chain to issue clarifications within 90 days to say that it has nothing to do with Bruce Lee.
- The enterprise filed the case after Chinese government pledged to protect intellectual property rights.
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Shannon Lee Sues Real Kungfu
Shannon Lee's Bruce Lee Enterprises sues Real Kungfu, the Chinese fast-food chain for allegedly using her father's image without permission. The company is also seeking compensation of $30 million (88000 yuan) to cover legal expenses according to Reuters. Further, they are requesting the fast-food chain company to stop using the image. However, according to the fast-food chain, the national authorities approved the logo. The logo depicts a dark-haired man in a martial art pose.
The enterprise also asked the chain to issue clarifications within 90 days to say that it has nothing to do with Bruce Lee. Shannon Lee took over the company from her mother as per Times of India who is now the CEO of the company. Further, she has involved herself in the preservation of her father's legacy for almost two decades now.
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“We’re confused that we are prosecuted many years later. We're actively studying the case and preparing to respond”
The Guangzhou based fast-food chain has around 600 outlets across China spreading over 57 cities in China. And the company is using the logo of a dark-haired man since 2004. China Cuisine association ranked the chain among the top 10 fast food companies in China last year. The company posted on Weibo says, “We’re confused that we are prosecuted many years later. We're actively studying the case and preparing to respond.” The company's statement read “The Real Kungfu chain's logo is one that the company had applied for and obtained after rigorous screening by the national trademark agency, we have already been using this for 15 years.”
As per its official website, Bruce Lee Enterprises handles merchandising and licensing of late Hong Kong-American actor-director Bruce Lee's image. The company further aims to share the art and philosophy of Bruce Lee to inspire personal growth, positive energy, and global harmony. It also aims to keep the martial artist's energy alive.
According to Reuters, the enterprise filed the case after the Chinese government pledged to protect intellectual property rights (one of the key topics in Beijing’s trade dispute with the United States). The enterprise filed the case in Shanghai Court on Wednesday.
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Image credit: Bloomberg.com
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