By Cao Li (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-07-17 09:36

SHANGHAI: American sporting goods giant Nike is suing two Chinese shoe manufacturers for alleged copyright infringement and a French supermarket for displaying and selling the shoes.

The infringement involves the use of a logo - silhouette of former basketball star Michael Jordan slam-dunking - on the sports shoes of the Chinese companies.

The Shanghai No 2 Intermediate People's Court held its second hearing yesterday. No verdict was announced.

Nike International Ltd is demanding the three - the shoe companies based in Jinjiang, Fujian Province, and the Shanghai branch of France-based retailer Auchan - to stop the infringement, make a public apology, and pay compensation of one million yuan (US$131,000).

But the three contend the logo is not well-known in China though it might be in other countries, and therefore, no apology is necessary. They also contend the compensation is too high.

As one of the most frequently copied brands, Nike has been fighting numerous counterfeits of its goods in recent years. Other major international brands are also doing the same.

Felicia Deng, Cartier's Shanghai representative, said the company is seeing counterfeits of its products worldwide. "We have a group of lawyers to deal with it."

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