China’s top court awards record US$24 million payout to chemical maker in trade secrets case
- Wanglong Technology ordered to pay damages to Zhonghua Chemical over theft of trade secrets related to flavouring agent vanillin
- It comes after Beijing has repeatedly vowed to improve protection of intellectual property
On Friday, the Intellectual Property Court of the Supreme People’s Court ordered Zhejiang-based chemical producer Wanglong Technology to pay damages to Zhonghua Chemical, another producer in the province, for stealing its trade secrets related to vanillin, a flavouring agent used in food and beverages.
The specialist court on Monday also released its verdict in a separate case that was heard in November, when it awarded compensation of 30 million yuan (U$4.6 million) to a Guangzhou company over the theft of technology used to make carbomer gel for cosmetics and personal care products.
China’s leaders have called on officials to make intellectual property protection a priority as the country seeks to become a global leader in technology and innovation.
The Intellectual Property Court on Friday overturned an earlier decision by the Zhejiang Higher People’s Court that had awarded Zhonghua Chemical a much smaller payout of 3.5 million yuan.
