Kenwood wins "Kenwei" brand piracy suit in China

TOKYO, Nov 12 (Reuters) The Beijing High People's Court has upheld an injunction against a Chinese electronics maker for copying Kenwood Corp's transceivers and trademark, the Japanese audio equipment maker said on Monday.

The high court ordered Fujian Top Way Intelligent Science&Technology and distributors Fuqing Rongwei Communications and Beijing Yichangyuan High Technology to pay 4.3 million yuan (0,300) in damages to Kenwood for selling Kenwood look-alike transceivers labelled ''Kenwei,'' Kenwood said in a statement.

Kenwood and domestic peers, who believe they were hurt by violations of their chip and display patents in the '80s and '90s, are aggressively suing local rivals as they seek growth in China.

The Fujian Top Way transceivers copied Kenwood design and manuals, as well as software for saving data onto PCs, said Kenwood.

REUTERS SLD KP1308