On February 25, the Beijing News reporter obtained a statement from Tiansi group, which showed that Tiansi group had applied for judicial expertise in response to the statement on the “50 year agreement” issued by Red Bull Vitamin Beverage Co., Ltd. China Red Bull previously said that it had submitted the original of the agreement to the Supreme People’s court and would investigate the legal responsibility of Thailand Tiansi.
On February 23, Red Bull Vitamin Beverage Co., Ltd. issued a statement saying that it has obtained the original of the agreement signed by China Red Bull with Thailand Tiansi, China Food Industry Corporation and Shenzhen Zhonghao group, which is valid for 50 years, and has officially submitted the original of the agreement to the Supreme People’s court as an important basis for the retrial of the case, It also said that it would investigate the legal responsibility of Thailand Tiansi and its lawyers. It is understood that there are nine articles in the 50 year agreement, the first of which stipulates that “only China Red Bull has the right to produce and sell Red Bull drinks in China” and “Thailand Tiansi shall not produce or contract to other companies to produce or sell similar products of Red Bull drinks in China”.
In this statement, Tiansi group said that the Supreme People’s court has made a final and effective judgment on the ownership of “Red Bull” series trademarks and the fact that the trademark license of Red Bull Vitamin Beverage Co., Ltd. expired on October 6, 2016. Red Bull Vitamin Beverage Co., Ltd. currently only applies for retrial, and the legal effect of the final judgment of the Supreme People’s court will not be affected.
In addition, Tiansi Group believes that Red Bull Vitamin Beverage Co., Ltd. and its related parties have repeatedly attempted to seize the “Red Bull” trademark of Tiansi group and its equity in Red Bull Vitamin Beverage Co., Ltd. through litigation, and Tiansi group has filed a lawsuit in 2016. At the same time, legal procedures have also been launched for the infringement and illegal acts of the relevant responsible person during the management of Red Bull Vitamin Beverage Co., Ltd., such as suspected job occupation and illegal transfer of major assets of the company.
In the statement on February 23, China Red Bull believed that Thailand Tiansi and its lawyers claimed that “the agreement has not been signed” and “the agreement involved in the case is not authentic” in the court trials of people’s courts at all levels for many times, which are suspected of false statements and perjury. China Red Bull will report and complain to the relevant judicial authorities about the suspected illegal acts of Thailand Tiansi and its lawyers, and investigate their legal responsibilities.
