The first instance of the case concerning the violation of the IPR of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai China was sentenced yesterday morning by Shanghai No.2 Intermediate People’s Court. The defendant Shanghai Honghui Real Estate Development Co. Ltd. was ordered to stop violating the exclusive legitimate right of the World Expo bidding logo, the copyright of both Chinese and English theme terms as well as patent right of"World Expo 2010 Shanghai China", which belongs to the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination.

The use of "Shibohui" in naming buildings as a homophone of"World Expo"in Chinese was also forbidden. What's more, the company must announce an apology in both Xinmin Evening and Jiefang Daily, and pay the plaintiff 400,000RMB for its economic loss . Meanwhile, the court imposed a fine of 50,000RMB as civil punishment.

According to "Regulations on the Protection of the World Exposition Symbols", which entered into force on December 1st , 2004, no one may use the World Exposition symbols for commercial purposes (including potential commercial purposes) without the authorization of the right-holders of the World Exposition symbols.