At the recently concluded Shenzhen Furniture Fair, Ronglin Shijia once again brought attention to the issue of furniture patent infringement, particularly after a case involving Berson. This has sparked renewed interest in intellectual property rights within the furniture industry. Looking back, in September last year, a conflict between Inovice and Maxell at the Shanghai Furniture Exhibition escalated into a court battle. Then, in October, Futaba Furniture filed a lawsuit against Lai's Furniture, claiming 25.12 million yuan in damages—the highest such claim in the history of the furniture sector. As a result, furniture patent disputes have become a major topic in the home furnishings industry in 2012. So why have these disputes increased over the past two years? And why do accusations of plagiarism continue to surface frequently?
In the past year, incidents of brands "kicking out" each other at furniture fairs have become more common and widely reported in the media. There was even a high-profile patent infringement lawsuit with the largest claim in the history of the furniture industry. There was also the infamous "Luoshengmen" incident, where both sides accused each other of copying, leading to confusion and misinformation.
Over the past 20 years of development in the Chinese furniture industry, why have disputes over design patents become more frequent in recent years? Industry experts suggest that while design imitation has always been common, companies are now stronger and more aware of protecting their intellectual property. More businesses are taking legal action proactively, as they recognize that such plagiarism can be highly damaging to the industry.
Despite this, design imitation remains widespread. Zhu Changling, chairman of the China Furniture Association, stated that appearance plagiarism is not a new phenomenon. He noted, "Throughout the past 20 years of Chinese furniture development, imitation has always been an issue." He explained that most furniture patents are related to aesthetics rather than technology, making them easy to copy. Additionally, when a popular design becomes successful, other manufacturers often rush to replicate it. However, the nature of this problem has evolved: "In the past, even brand companies copied designs. Now, everyone’s awareness has improved, and brand companies have their own original designs, while smaller companies tend to copy larger ones."
Gao Fei, executive director of Shuangye Furniture, believes that many furniture industries have historically drawn inspiration from foreign and domestic designs, a practice that was common seven or eight years ago. Qi Lin, president of Beijing Ronglin Shijia Furniture Company, however, feels that plagiarism is becoming increasingly severe. "Some small, unknown businesses that barely survive on the edge of the market copy others, but we cannot tolerate plagiarism from established brands with independent research capabilities."
Plagiarism not only harms the original brand but also undermines the entire industry. While plagiarism has existed for a long time, the increase in conflicts in recent years is linked to the rise of brand awareness and fiercer competition. Gao Fei explained, "In the past, competition wasn’t so intense. Everyone worked independently, and even if there was imitation, it didn’t directly affect anything." Now, as original brands grow and expand their market share, they inevitably come into contact with infringing companies, which can lead to direct harm.
Zhu Changling added that cheap, imitated products can affect sales. But Gao Fei believes this is just a small part of the damage. "Some imitators don't just copy the look—they also copy the craftsmanship. Over time, they get closer to the original, which can ultimately hurt the original brand." He pointed out that in China, there isn’t much public awareness about furniture patents. Consumers often judge whether a product is original based on its appearance, and the spread of negative rumors can be extremely damaging to a brand’s reputation. "This has a huge impact on the integrity and development of the whole industry," he said.
Qi Lin agrees that large-scale plagiarism by well-established companies with R&D capabilities is unacceptable. "It’s very harmful to the development of the entire industry," he added.
Industry insiders believe that the growing number of companies taking legal action to protect their rights stems from the increasing strength of enterprises and a rising sense of self-awareness. Gao Fei says, "When companies that focus on original design become strong, they start pursuing market influence and the right to speak up, and they begin to claim their intellectual property rights."
Yu Xiusu, vice chairman of the Beijing Furniture Association, also highlights that the growth of original companies is a key factor behind the rise in patent protection cases.
Qi Lin adds that in recent years, the targets of intellectual property litigation have expanded, and with more successful cases, many companies have been inspired to stand up for their rights.
One of the most surprising aspects of furniture design infringement cases is that both parties may hold patents for similar designs and accuse each other of infringement, even going to court in what resembles a "Rashomon" situation. These cases are often linked to terms like "hype" and "malicious defamation." Some argue that the reason some infringers remain silent is due to the difficulty of fighting furniture design patent lawsuits. According to industry professionals, while there are objective challenges, the importance of rights protection awareness and knowledge cannot be overstated.
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