两家莲香楼商标运营企业虚假宣传被罚！广州老字号公司回应了

Core Viewpoint - The dispute over the trademark licensing of the well-known Chinese brand "Lianxianglou" continues, with both the trademark user and owner refusing to compromise [1][2]. Group 1: Trademark Dispute - Guangzhou Lianxianglou Co., Ltd. has filed a lawsuit against two companies operating Lianxianglou restaurants, winning the case in the first instance, with the defendants fined 2 million yuan for false advertising claims [1][4]. - The trademark owner, Guangzhou Old Brand Investment Holding Co., Ltd., insists that the licensing nature of the Lianxianglou trademark is ordinary licensing, and they will handle the legal proceedings regarding the fine [1][2][3]. - The controversy over the licensing method dates back to 2006, when the ownership and licensing terms were not clearly defined, leading to ongoing disputes [4][6]. Group 2: Legal Proceedings and Court Rulings - The Beijing Haidian District Court ruled that the two defendant companies, Guangzhou Lianlou Catering Service Co., Ltd. and Guangzhou Bailian Catering Service Co., Ltd., could use the Lianxianglou trademark under ordinary licensing but could not claim historical branding without proper authorization [7][8]. - The court found that the use of terms like "Chinese Time-honored Brand" and "Centennial Classic" by the defendants constituted false advertising, misleading consumers about their historical connection to the original Lianxianglou [7][8]. Group 3: Business Expansion and Performance - Lianxianglou has accelerated its market expansion, successfully opening 10 stores in five cities, including Guangzhou, Wuhan, and Xiamen, demonstrating significant national growth [3]. - The brand's food sales business has seen a remarkable year-on-year increase of 1100%, indicating strong market performance [3].