Companies all steamed up about xiaolongbao trademark

Shanghai Old-Town Temple Restaurant (Group) Co and Shanghai Nanxiang Food Co are suing each other alleging trademark infringement related to xiaolongbao (steamed dumplings) and illicit competition.

The Pudong New Area’s court and Yangpu District’s court have accepted their complaints. The Pudong court said on Wednesday that a hearing had been set for September.

The temple restaurant company and its subsidiary Nanxiang steam buns company are asking the Nanxiang food company, and two related companies, to stop using the “Nanxiang” trademark and pay 3 million yuan (US$432,000) compensation, according to the Pudong court.

The old-town temple restaurant said it registered the “Nanxiang” trademark for the restaurant category in 1994.

In 2014, the Nanxiang food company opened a number of restaurants. some of which use the name “Nangxiang” and print it on posters, menus and tableware, the old-town temple restaurant company said.

It alleges misleading advertising, with phrases such as “intangible cultural heritage” and “the sixth generation of Nangxiang xiaolongbao.”

However, the Nangxiang food company claims it registered “Nanxiang” trademark for the food category in 1986.

It said it said had the right to use the trademark and there was no fake advertising.