[Reporter] The item I am holding right now is from a Chinese milk tea brand called "Moli Tea."

The company's logo is shaped like a flower petal.

However, this company has been ordered to pay damages to the global luxury brand Louis Vuitton.

The reason lies in a ruling by a Chinese court.

Moli Tea, which opened its first store in Shenzhen in 2021, changed its logo to the current design two years ago.

As Moli Tea franchise stores expanded nationwide, Louis Vuitton filed a lawsuit with the Suzhou Intermediate People's Court in China, alleging trademark infringement and violations of the Anti-Unfair Competition Law.

Louis Vuitton argued that the pattern used on store signs, cups, and shopping bags caused consumers to mistakenly believe that the brand was collaborating with or had a special relationship with Louis Vuitton.

In the first-instance ruling on July 1, the court ruled in favor of Louis Vuitton.

The court determined that Moli Tea had unauthorizedly used Louis Vuitton's registered trademark, the four-petal monogram pattern.

The court ordered Moli Tea to pay a total of 10.3 million yuan, which is approximately 2.3 billion won.

It also ordered the company to immediately cease the trademark infringement and post an apology on its official website and social media platforms, including Weibo.

As the news spread, it sparked heated debate among Chinese netizens, with the ruling rising to the top of real-time search rankings.

Some claimed that Louis Vuitton itself was inspired by traditional Chinese patterns.

They posted photos comparing the Louis Vuitton logo to patterns carved on a pipa (a traditional Chinese musical instrument) from the Tang Dynasty, criticizing Louis Vuitton for attempting to monopolize a traditional pattern that is part of China's cultural heritage.

Some people are even posting on social media that they are intentionally ordering Moli Tea drinks to show support for the local brand.

Moli Tea has announced that it will appeal the ruling.

(Video reporting: Choi Deok-hyun)