Record compensation awarded by Beijing IP court in patent
infringement case, with award of attorney fees.
In December 2016, the Beijing Intellectual Property Court found
that Hengbao Co Ltd had infringed the patent of the plaintiff,
Watchdata Technologies Ltd. Hengbao was ordered to compensate
Watchdata for an economic loss of RMB 49 million ($7 million), and
attorney fees of RMB 1 million. This is the highest award by the
Beijing IP Court for an economic loss. Furthermore, it is the first
time that it has awarded compensation in respect of attorney
fees.
Both Watchdata and the defendant Hengbao produce smart password
key products (known as "U shield" in China) for the
financial sector. Watchdata owns a patent entitled "Physical
identification method and electronic device", for U shields,
and alleged that several USB key products produced by Hengbao, and
sold to dozens of domestic banks, infringed Watchdata's patent.
€ e Beijing IP Court agreed. Hengbao sought to
