Daily Lessons from Life 09 May 2010 - Andy Lau Took On an Old Man?

"Andy Lau threatens duck shop owner with same name - Daily Chilli, ANN Sun May 9 2010

Hong Kong 'heavenly king' Andy Lau has been slammed for bullying an elderly man in Sichuan, China.

The 68-year-old man, who owns a restaurant in Chongzhou, Sichuan, is named Liu Dehua. His name in Chinese is the same as that of the singer which was why he almost lost his trademark - the Authentic Liu Dehua Pressed Salted Duck Shop.

Last week, Lau's agent in China had issued a letter to the restaurant owner for alleged infringement of copyright and defamation of Andy Lau. The letter also called on Liu to remove the restaurant signage which has the words 'Liu De Hua'.

This triggered much anger among the locals, especially regular customers of the restaurant that has been in business for 30 years. Liu started his business in 1980 when Lau was still using his given name of Lau Fook-wing."

The Hong Kong Liu Dehua must have wished that his publicity and IP firm in China used their brain a bit more and get the facts right before issuing an old man who had started his business with his own name before this Hong Kong Liu became famous!

Surely he will consider penalizing his representatives and apologize to the old man Liu if he has any sense of decency as well as business acumen to 'repair the damage to his brand'!!

Lessons for me are:

1. some people can go overboard with IPR (intellectual proprietary right) in this world. I, for one, does not believed that a name is a trade mark! Especially when the owner of the business happened to have the same name!;

2. this case also showed that when you pushed your right too much and did it the 'wrong' way, you will have to put in double or treble the efforts to repair the damages wrought. It was reported that the firm representing Hong Kong Lau has withdrawn the charges!;

3. also when you pushed you right vigorously you better do your homework well. In this case, given the fact that all the shops that sell ducks in that place used the name of the owners, and the old man Liu started his business before the Hong Kong Lau was famous and was using his 'old' name Liu Fook Wing, it just simply waiting to invite critics that Hong Kong Lau is BULLYING an old man!

It is a trivial incident really but it showed how silly some people can be to initiate action that is without merits and bringing troubles to themselves. Fools beware. Don't push the wrong button!