Danone Could Take Legal Action Over its Trademark Dispute with Chinese Partner Wahaha
Danone has 51 percent of a joint venture with Wahaha. The French group says Wahaha breached a 1996 contract by using the Wahaha brand name on products sold outside the venture.
25/04/07 French food group Danone reaffirmed on Tuesday it could take legal action or go to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) over its trademark dispute with Chinese partner Wahaha.
"We don't want to go to court if we can avoid doing that. If it was necessary, we would do it. We would do it for sure with local jurisdictions, where relevant, and we would of course introduce actions at the level of the International Chamber of Commerce," Danone Chief Financial Officer Antoine Giscard d'Estaing told analysts on a conference call.
"If we can get to something which is realistic and acceptable on a negotiated basis we are more than happy to do that, and this is our first objective," he added.
Danone has 51 percent of a joint venture with Wahaha. The French group says Wahaha breached a 1996 contract by using the Wahaha brand name on products sold outside the venture.
Giscard D'Estaing was speaking after Danone reported a 3.9 percent rise in first quarter sales.
