Image: VWUntil now, the dispute, which has been ongoing since 2023, has only involved interim injunctions. However, the 12th Civil Chamber of the Regional Court of Hamburg has now issued a partial judgment in the main proceedings (Case No. 312 O 182/23) brought by Volkswagen regarding alleged grey-market imports from China.In its ruling, the court largely sided with the car manufacturer’s arguments: “The trademarks and designs used in connection with the ID.6 vehicle are legally protected for the claimant,” the Regional Court stated. “It is the holder of an international trademark ‘VW in a circle’, the trademarks ‘ID.’ and ‘ID.6’, as well as the holder of a registered Community design protecting the external appearance of the ID.6 Crozz, which applies across the entire European Union.”These were the very infringements targeted by the interim injunction that VW obtained in 2023 after a Berlin car dealer offered self-imported ID.6 models on an online platform. The vehicles stored at the dealer’s premises – and those of another dealer – were seized. Since then, the ID.6 Crozz models have been stored in a specially rented warehouse.An appeal can still be lodged against the Regional Court of Hamburg’s ruling, meaning the judgment is not yet legally binding. Only after this will the exact fate of the 22 stored vehicles become clear. Volkswagen intends to scrap the vehicles.Note: This is only a partial judgment against the Berlin car dealer. Proceedings against the other involved dealer, where some of the ID.6 Crozz vehicles were stored, are currently suspended as the dealer is undergoing insolvency proceedings.auto-motor-und-sport.de, justiz.hamburg.de (both in German)