AMTD’s Successful Action Against IP Infringement
AMTD Group and its subsidiary World Media and Entertainment Universal (WME) have won a legal battle in Hong Kong courts against Luxury Village and its director for infringing on L'OFFICIEL 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, which has been publishing fashion magazines since 1921 in over 30 major markets, AMTD has successfully eliminated the defendants' presence from various social media platforms and domains. The company continues to pursue action against remaining illegitimate channels and warns partners against dealing with unauthorized parties, including former publishers attempting to misuse the L'OFFICIEL brand in Arabia, India, Korea, and L'OFFICIEL HOMMES KOREA.
AMTD Group e la sua sussidiaria World Media and Entertainment Universal (WME) hanno vinto una battaglia legale nei tribunali di Hong Kong contro Luxury Village e il suo direttore per violazione dei diritti di proprietà intellettuale di L'OFFICIEL. L'ordine del tribunale, emesso il 29 luglio 2024, include ingiunzioni che vietano agli imputati di utilizzare il marchio L'OFFICIEL, richiedendo la cessione del nome del dominio e invalidando il loro marchio a Hong Kong.
In qualità di detentore esclusivo dei diritti di L'OFFICIEL, che pubblica riviste di moda dal 1921 in oltre 30 mercati principali, AMTD ha eliminato con successo la presenza degli imputati da varie piattaforme di social media e domini. L'azienda continua a perseguire azioni contro i rimanenti canali illegittimi e avverte i partner contro rapporti con parti non autorizzate, inclusi ex editori che tentano di abusare del marchio L'OFFICIEL in Arabia, India, Corea e L'OFFICIEL HOMMES KOREA.
AMTD Group y su subsidiaria World Media and Entertainment Universal (WME) han ganado una batalla 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 del tribunal, emitida el 29 de julio de 2024, incluye injunctions que prohíben a los demandados el uso de la marca L'OFFICIEL, exigen la relinquimientos del nombre de dominio e invalidan su marca registrada en Hong Kong.
Como titular exclusivo de los derechos de L'OFFICIEL, que ha estado publicando revistas de moda desde 1921 en más de 30 mercados principales, AMTD ha logrado eliminar la presencia de los demandados de varias plataformas de redes sociales y dominios. La empresa continúa persiguiendo acciones contra los restantes canales ilegítimos y advierte a los socios sobre tratar con partes no autorizadas, incluidos ex editores que intentan abusar de la marca L'OFFICIEL en Arabia, India, Corea y L'OFFICIEL HOMMES KOREA.
AMTD Group와 그 자회사 World Media and Entertainment Universal (WME)는 L'OFFICIEL의 지적 재산권을 침해한 Luxury Village 및 그 이사에 대해 홍콩 법원에서 법적 승리를 거두었습니다. 2024년 7월 29일에 발행된 법원 명령은 피고가 L'OFFICIEL 브랜드를 사용하는 것을 금지하고, 도메인 이름의 포기를 요구하며, 그들의 홍콩 상표를 무효화하는 내용을 포함하고 있습니다.
1921년부터 30개 이상의 주요 시장에서 패션 잡지를 발행해 온 L'OFFICIEL의 독점 권리 보유자로서, AMTD는 피고의 여러 소셜 미디어 플랫폼과 도메인에서의 존재를 성공적으로 제거했습니다. 이 회사는 여전히 남아있는 불법 채널에 대한 조치를 취하고 있으며 허가받지 않은 당사자와 거래하지 않도록 파트너들에게 경고하고 있습니다. 여기에는 아라비아, 인도, 한국에서 L'OFFICIEL 브랜드를 부당하게 사용하려는 전 출판사들도 포함됩니다. L'OFFICIEL HOMMES KOREA도 포함됩니다.
AMTD Group et sa filiale World Media and Entertainment Universal (WME) ont remporté une bataille juridique 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, émise le 29 juillet 2024, comprend des injonctions interdisant aux défendeurs d'utiliser la marque L'OFFICIEL, exigeant l'abandon du nom de domaine et annulant leur marque enregistrée à Hong Kong.
En tant que détenteur exclusif des droits de L'OFFICIEL, qui publie des magazines de mode depuis 1921 dans plus de 30 marchés majeurs, AMTD a réussi à éliminer la présence des défendeurs de diverses plateformes de médias sociaux et de domaines. L'entreprise continue à poursuivre des actions contre les canaux illégitimes restants et met en garde ses partenaires contre les transactions avec des parties non autorisées, y compris d'anciens éditeurs tentant d'abuser de la marque L'OFFICIEL en Arabie, en Inde, en Corée et L'OFFICIEL HOMMES KOREA.
AMTD Group und deren Tochtergesellschaft World Media and Entertainment Universal (WME) haben einen Rechtsstreit vor den Gerichten in Hongkong gegen Luxury Village und dessen Direktor gewonnen, da diese die geistigen Eigentumsrechte von L'OFFICIEL verletzt haben. Die am 29. Juli 2024 erlassene Gerichtsanordnung umfasst Verfügungen, die den Beklagten die Nutzung der Marke L'OFFICIEL untersagen, die Freigabe des Domainnamens verlangen und ihre Hongkonger Marke für ungültig erklären.
Als Inhaber der exklusiven Rechte an L'OFFICIEL, das seit 1921 in über 30 wichtigen Märkten Modemagazine veröffentlicht, hat AMTD erfolgreich die Präsenz der Beklagten aus verschiedenen sozialen Medien und Domains entfernt. Das Unternehmen verfolgt weiterhin rechtliche Schritte gegen verbleibende illegitime Kanäle und warnt Partner davor, mit nicht autorisierten Parteien zu verhandeln, einschließlich ehemaliger Verleger, die versuchen, die Marke L'OFFICIEL in Arabien, Indien, Korea und L'OFFICIEL HOMMES KOREA missbräuchlich zu verwenden.
- Successfully defended intellectual property rights in Hong Kong courts
- Obtained court order preventing unauthorized use of L'OFFICIEL brand
- Successfully removed multiple unauthorized social media accounts and domains
- Ongoing unauthorized use of brand through multiple channels requiring additional legal action
- Multiple instances of brand misuse by former publishers affecting multiple international markets
Insights
The Hong Kong court victory represents a significant milestone in AMTD's digital media strategy and brand protection efforts. The comprehensive legal win against IP infringement of the L'OFFICIEL brand demonstrates several key business implications:
The successful enforcement action protects AMTD's revenue streams across 30+ major markets where L'OFFICIEL operates. Luxury fashion magazines generate substantial income through advertising, sponsorships and digital content monetization. By aggressively defending against unauthorized usage, AMTD preserves its ability to maintain premium pricing and exclusive relationships with luxury advertisers.
The removal of infringing digital assets across multiple platforms (Facebook, Instagram, domains) strengthens AMTD's control over the brand's digital presence. This is important as fashion media increasingly shifts to digital formats, where brand authenticity and content quality directly impact advertising revenues.
Most notably, the company's proactive stance against international infringement (including in Arabia, India and Korea) signals to the market that AMTD is serious about protecting its intellectual property globally. This creates a strong deterrent against future infringement attempts and helps maintain the premium positioning of the L'OFFICIEL brand, which has been cultivated since 1921.
The legal victory also validates AMTD's 2022 acquisition strategy of L'OFFICIEL, demonstrating the company's ability to successfully integrate and defend major media assets. This strengthens AMTD's position as it continues to expand its digital media and entertainment portfolio.
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.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250211001135/en/
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 Digital Inc.
FAQ
What legal victory did AMTD achieve regarding L'OFFICIEL brand protection in 2024?
Which unauthorized social media accounts were removed following AMTD's legal action?
What markets are affected by unauthorized L'OFFICIEL brand usage?
What specific actions were mandated by the Hong Kong Court Order regarding L'OFFICIEL?
