French company Lacoste sued two garment factories and a department store yesterday in a Beijing court, as part of a campaign to safeguard its trademark in China.

The Guangzhou Tai'e Garment Company in South China's Guangdong Province, the Beijing Nianniangao Garment & Accessories Company and the Beijing Chengxiang Department Store were charged with violating Lacoste's registered trademark rights, sources with the Beijing No 1 Intermediate People's Court said yesterday.

Another two lawsuits put forward by Lacoste, against the Beijing Scitech Plaza and the trademark appraisal committee of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, were already under way at the same court.

In the latest case, the Guangzhou-based company produced garments with its own trademark of Jin'e but the Lacoste logo, according to the plaintiff.

The Beijing Nianniangao Company was accused of opening a shop at the Beijing Chengxiang Department Store to sell clothes that violated the French company's trademark rights. Lacoste asked for a compensation of 1 million yuan (US$123,000).

The court accepted the case on July 21. No hearing was held.

According to sources with the plaintiff, the Haidian District Branch of the Beijing Municipal Administration for Industry and Commerce has punished the three defendants for infringing Lacoste's trademark.

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