AMTD’s Successful Action Against IP Infringement
AMTD Group and its subsidiary World Media and Entertainment Universal (WME) have won a significant legal victory in Hong Kong courts against Luxury Village and its director for infringing on L'OFFICIEL's intellectual property rights. The court order, issued on July 29, 2024, includes injunctions preventing the defendants from using the L'OFFICIEL brand, requiring domain name relinquishment, and invalidating their Hong Kong trademark.
As the exclusive rights holder of L'OFFICIEL, a prestigious fashion magazine first published in Paris in 1921 and now distributed in over 30 major markets worldwide, AMTD has successfully eliminated the defendants' unauthorized presence across multiple social media platforms and domains. The company continues to pursue action against ongoing violations and has identified additional unauthorized usage by former publishers in Arabia, India, and Korea.
AMTD Group e la sua controllata World Media and Entertainment Universal (WME) hanno ottenuto una significativa vittoria legale nei tribunali di Hong Kong contro Luxury Village e il suo direttore per violazione dei diritti di proprietà intellettuale di L'OFFICIEL. L'ordinanza del tribunale, emessa il 29 luglio 2024, include ordinanze che vietano agli imputati di utilizzare il marchio L'OFFICIEL, richiedendo la rinuncia al nome di dominio e annullando il loro marchio registrato a Hong Kong.
In qualità di detentore dei diritti esclusivi di L'OFFICIEL, una prestigiosa rivista di moda pubblicata per la prima volta a Parigi nel 1921 e ora distribuita in oltre 30 mercati principali in tutto il mondo, AMTD ha eliminato con successo la presenza non autorizzata degli imputati su più piattaforme di social media e domini. L'azienda continua a perseguire azioni contro le violazioni in corso e ha identificato ulteriori utilizzi non autorizzati da parte di ex editori in Arabia, India e Corea.
AMTD Group y su filial World Media and Entertainment Universal (WME) han ganado una importante victoria legal en los tribunales de Hong Kong contra Luxury Village y su director por infringir los derechos de propiedad intelectual de L'OFFICIEL. La orden judicial, emitida el 29 de julio de 2024, incluye medidas cautelares que impiden a los demandados utilizar la marca L'OFFICIEL, exigiendo la relinquencia del nombre de dominio y anulando su marca registrada en Hong Kong.
Como titular de los derechos exclusivos de L'OFFICIEL, una prestigiosa revista de moda publicada por primera vez en París en 1921 y ahora distribuida en más de 30 mercados principales en todo el mundo, AMTD ha logrado eliminar la presencia no autorizada de los demandados en múltiples plataformas de redes sociales y dominios. La empresa continúa persiguiendo acciones contra las violaciones en curso y ha identificado un uso no autorizado adicional por parte de ex editores en Arabia, India y Corea.
AMTD Group와 그 자회사 World Media and Entertainment Universal (WME)는 럭셔리 빌리지와 그 이사에 대해 L'OFFICIEL의 지적 재산권을 침해한 혐의로 홍콩 법원에서 중요한 법적 승리를 거두었습니다. 2024년 7월 29일에 발행된 법원 명령은 피고가 L'OFFICIEL 브랜드를 사용하는 것을 금지하고, 도메인 이름 포기를 요구하며, 홍콩 상표를 무효화하는 내용을 포함하고 있습니다.
L'OFFICIEL의 독점 권리 보유자로서, 1921년 파리에서 처음 발행된 이후 현재 전 세계 30개 이상의 주요 시장에서 배포되는 명망 있는 패션 잡지 L'OFFICIEL의 AMTD는 여러 소셜 미디어 플랫폼과 도메인에서 피고의 무단 존재를 성공적으로 제거했습니다. 이 회사는 지속적인 위반에 대한 조치를 계속 추구하고 있으며, 아라비아, 인도 및 한국의 이전 발행자에 의해 이루어진 추가적인 무단 사용을 확인하였습니다.
AMTD Group et sa filiale World Media and Entertainment Universal (WME) ont remporté une victoire juridique significative devant les tribunaux de Hong Kong contre Luxury Village et son directeur pour violation des droits de propriété intellectuelle de L'OFFICIEL. L'ordonnance du tribunal, rendue le 29 juillet 2024, comprend des injonctions interdisant aux défendeurs d'utiliser la marque L'OFFICIEL, exigeant la renonciation au nom de domaine et invalidant leur marque à Hong Kong.
En tant que détenteur des droits exclusifs de L'OFFICIEL, un magazine de mode prestigieux publié pour la première fois à Paris en 1921 et désormais distribué dans plus de 30 marchés majeurs à travers le monde, AMTD a réussi à éliminer la présence non autorisée des défendeurs sur plusieurs plateformes de réseaux sociaux et domaines. L'entreprise continue de mener des actions contre les violations en cours et a identifié des utilisations non autorisées supplémentaires par d'anciens éditeurs en Arabie, en Inde et en Corée.
AMTD Group und ihre Tochtergesellschaft World Media and Entertainment Universal (WME) haben vor den Gerichten in Hongkong einen bedeutenden rechtlichen Sieg gegen Luxury Village und dessen Direktor wegen der Verletzung der geistigen Eigentumsrechte von L'OFFICIEL errungen. Die Gerichtsanordnung, die am 29. Juli 2024 erlassen wurde, umfasst einstweilige Verfügungen, die es den Beklagten verbieten, die Marke L'OFFICIEL zu verwenden, und fordert die Abgabe des Domainnamens sowie die Ungültigmachung ihrer Marke in Hongkong.
Als exklusiver Rechteinhaber von L'OFFICIEL, einer renommierten Modemagazin, das erstmals 1921 in Paris veröffentlicht wurde und jetzt in über 30 wichtigen Märkten weltweit vertrieben wird, hat AMTD erfolgreich die unbefugte Präsenz der Beklagten auf mehreren Social-Media-Plattformen und Domains beseitigt. Das Unternehmen verfolgt weiterhin Maßnahmen gegen laufende Verstöße und hat zusätzlich unbefugte Nutzungen durch ehemalige Herausgeber in Arabien, Indien und Korea identifiziert.
- Successful legal victory protecting valuable IP rights
- Court order secured multiple protective measures including domain control
- Effective enforcement leading to removal of unauthorized social media presence
- Ongoing unauthorized use of brand requiring additional legal action
- Multiple international IP infringement cases requiring resources to address
Insights
The Hong Kong court victory represents a strategic milestone in AMTD's global IP protection strategy, particularly significant for their L'OFFICIEL fashion media franchise operating in over 30 major markets. The comprehensive nature of the court order - covering digital platforms, domain names and trademark rights - establishes a powerful legal precedent for future enforcement actions.
This legal outcome has several key business implications:
- Strengthens AMTD's ability to monetize L'OFFICIEL's brand value across digital platforms and international markets
- Protects advertising revenue streams by ensuring exclusive control over content distribution
- Demonstrates robust corporate governance and brand management capabilities to potential partners and advertisers
- Positions AMTD favorably for further international expansion, particularly in high-value markets like Australia and the Middle East
The company's proactive stance against unauthorized usage in multiple territories (Arabia, India, Korea) suggests a comprehensive global brand protection strategy. This is particularly important as digital media valuations are increasingly tied to brand integrity and exclusive content rights. The successful legal action helps safeguard AMTD's digital media investments and supports their international growth trajectory in the luxury fashion media sector.
AMTD is the exclusive rights holder of L'OFFICIEL and its associated brands. The first L'OFFICIEL magazine was published in
We learned that the Defendants had been infringing on intellectual property rights owned by AMTD relating to our brand "L'OFFICIEL," including but not limited to publishing digital copies of the "L'Officiel Fashion Book" magazine, “L'OFFICIEL FASHION BOOK MONTECARLO” and “L'OFFICIEL FASHION BOOK AUSTRALIA.” We take such infringement extremely seriously and have taken swift legal action against their illegal conduct.
Following our legal action, we are pleased to announce that on July 29, 2024, the
Joanne Shoveller, Chair of WME and Co-Chair of AMTD Digital Inc. commented: “WME takes the global management of the L’OFFICIEL brand and its associated brands very seriously due to the long and prestigious history of the magazine. We are honoured to carry the L’OFFICIEL legacy forward and therefore are adamant that the brand and its IP must be protected carefully to distribute authentic, original and diverse content that truly reflects our international markets and audiences.”
Key points to consider from the Court Order include:
(1) Injunctions Against Infringement: The Defendants are prohibited from infringing AMTD's exclusive rights to the trademarks and copyright in "L'Officiel."
(2) Domain Name Relinquishment: The Defendants must give up domain names that wrongfully incorporate "L’Officiel."
(3) Invalidation of a Hong Kong Trade Mark: Luxury Village LLC's trademark, which improperly incorporates our "L'OFFICIEL" mark, has been declared invalid and removed from the Hong Kong Register of Trade Marks.
In accordance with the Court Order, we have successfully eliminated the Defendants' online presence from:
1. Facebook pages @lofficielmontecarlofashionbook, @lofficielmontecarlo
2. Domain name <lofficiel.com.hk>
3. Instagram accounts @lofficielfashionbookhongkong, @lofficiel.fashionbook
4. Pinterest account lfashionbook
We continue to vigorously pursue action against the Defendants' blatant disregard of the Court Order and wrongful publication of a L'OFFICIEL FASHION BOOK magazine, and the Defendants' use of the following illegitimate channels and accounts which infringe our rights.
1. Domain names <lofficiel.au>, <lofficielfashionbook.hk>, <lofficielaustralia.com>， <lofficielfashionbook.mc>
2. Instagram accounts @lofficielfashionbookmontecarlo, @lofficielau
3. Threads accounts @lofficielau, @lofficielfashionbookmontecarlo
4. X account @LofficielAU
5. YouTube accounts LOfficielFashionBook, lofficielfashionbookaustralia
We also take this opportunity to caution our valued partners and customers, including all global brands and agencies, and the wider public to avoid dealings with the Defendants, who may be carrying on businesses and offering to provide services under or by reference to "L'OFFICIEL" or any name or marks similar to the "L'OFFICIEL" name or our registered marks.
Additionally, those illegal activities cited above were not the only instances of illicit attempts to take advantage of our international profile and growth. We have identified other dishonest former publishers and related parties, namely Sidharth Saigal, Chalk Media FZE, and Money Today, who have been seeking to misuse the L'OFFICIEL brand without any form of valid authorization or contractual agreement, breaching their express legal obligations. This improper conduct specifically pertains to L'OFFICIEL ARABIA, L'OFFICIEL
As with the Defendants, these companies and individuals are not part of the AMTD Group and do not represent us or our "L'OFFICIEL" brand. We caution against dealing with them.
This judgment highlights AMTD's commitment to protecting our interests, and AMTD will continue to uphold and ensure the authenticity of our brands.
About AMTD Group
AMTD Group is a conglomerate with core business portfolio spanning across media and entertainment, education and training, and premium assets and hospitality areas.
About AMTD IDEA Group
AMTD IDEA Group (NYSE: AMTD; SGX: HKB) represents a diversified institution and digital solutions group connecting companies and investors with global markets. Its comprehensive one-stop business services plus digital solutions platform addresses different clients’ diverse and inter-connected business needs and digital requirements across all phases of their life cycles. AMTD IDEA Group is uniquely positioned as an active super connector between clients, business partners, investee companies, and investors, connecting the East and the West. For more information, please visit www.amtdinc.com or follow us on X (formerly known as “Twitter") at @AMTDGroup.
About AMTD Digital Inc.
AMTD Digital Inc. (NYSE: HKD) is a comprehensive digital solutions platform headquartered in
About World Media and Entertainment
World Media and Entertainment, jointly established by AMTD Group, AMTD IDEA Group (NYSE: AMTD; SGX: HKB) and AMTD Digital Inc. (NYSE: HKD), focuses on global strategies and developments in multi-media, entertainment, and cultural affairs worldwide. WME comprises L’Officiel, The Art Newspaper, movie and entertainment projects, collectively a diversified media and entertainment portfolio of global businesses, and a global portfolio of premium properties.
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For AMTD IDEA Group:
IR Office
AMTD IDEA Group
EMAIL: ir@amtdinc.com
For AMTD Digital Inc.:
IR Office
AMTD Digital Inc.
EMAIL: ir@amtdigital.com
Source: AMTD IDEA Group
FAQ
What legal victory did AMTD achieve regarding L'OFFICIEL's IP rights in 2024?
How many markets does AMTD's L'OFFICIEL magazine operate in?
What specific social media accounts were removed following AMTD's legal action?
What additional IP infringement issues is AMTD currently addressing?
