·Prison sentence and punitive fines handed down
·IP specialist consultancy Rouse and law firm Lusheng advised Babyzen on matter

　　Babyzen, a leading French manufacturer of baby strollers, has won a criminal case against counterfeiters in China.
　　The Shanghai Minhang Court found infringers guilty of knowingly sourcing and selling counterfeit copies of Babyzen’s popular ‘yoyo’ strollers via an online retail platform.
　　The defendants were sentenced on 10th October to four years’ imprisonment and a fine of RMB 1.5m (approx. US$225,000) - a heavy financial penalty and one of the first such cases to result in a custodial sentence in China.
　　Rouse, a leading global IP consultancy, together with its strategic partner Lusheng Law firm, advised Babyzen on the case.
　　It is rare for Chinese courts to hand down such severe punishment in relation to IP infringement, with most cases resulting in suspended sentences and lower fines.
　　Commenting on the case, Adelaide Yu, Partner at Rouse, said:
　　“The prison sentences and highly punitive fines handed down by the Shanghai Court send a clear message to counterfeiters - the sourcing and selling of fake goods will not be tolerated.
　　“We expect to see further such judgments as China signals to the world that how seriously it takes intellectual property protection.”
　　Luke Minford, Chief Executive Officer, Rouse commented:
　　“We’re delighted with the result. The decision proves that brands can be confident in protecting their IP in China. With the right support and advice, brands can protect, enforce and prosecute.”