In a significant legal move, a major American corporation has filed a lawsuit against several Chinese companies and individuals for allegedly infringing on its trademarks. The case was brought by Alticor Inc. and Amway Corp., filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on September 24, 2024, targeting Ganjingzi District Chengcheng Orange Trading Company, Yuncheng Yanhu District Yonghe Trading Co., Ltd., Yang Yongtao, and John Does 1-10.
The plaintiffs, Alticor Inc. and Amway Corp., accuse the defendants of trademark infringement under the Lanham Act, unfair competition, violations of the Illinois Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and tortious interference with business relationships. The complaint arises from the defendants' alleged unauthorized sale of products bearing Amway's trademarks through online marketplaces like Amazon. These products are claimed to be materially different from genuine Amway products due to their lack of adherence to Amway's strict quality controls and customer service standards.
According to the complaint, Alticor Inc., based in Michigan, is the parent company of Amway Corp., which operates under Virginia law but also has its principal place of business in Michigan. They allege that Ganjingzi and Yuncheng operate Amazon storefronts named "Long River Business" and "GUOYONG Amazing Outlet," respectively. Both storefronts are accused of selling counterfeit or non-genuine products using Amway's trademarks without authorization.
The plaintiffs argue that these actions not only infringe on their trademarks but also damage their reputation by offering inferior products that do not meet their quality standards or come with their Satisfaction Guarantee—a key feature for consumers purchasing genuine Amway products. The lawsuit highlights numerous negative reviews from customers who purchased these products online, citing issues such as expired goods, missing components, or receiving counterfeit items.
Alticor Inc. and Amway Corp. seek various forms of relief from the court including damages for trademark infringement and unfair competition as well as injunctive relief to prevent further sales of these unauthorized products. They are also asking for an accounting of profits made by the defendants from these sales.
Representing Alticor Inc. and Amway Corp. are attorneys whose names were not specified in this document; however, it was filed before Judge John Doe with Case ID 1:24-cv-08821.