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Monday 09 May 2016 6:50 pm

Facebook wins copyright case against Chinese drinks company Zhongshan Pearl River Drinks

By: Francesca Washtell

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If you'd been looking forward to sampling a refreshing "face book" beverage on your next visit to Beijing, you're about to be sorely disappointed. 

The US social networking behemoth Facebook has won a rare copyright victory in China, after the Beijing Municipal High People's Court ruled that Zhongshan Pearl River Drinks could no longer use the name "face book" on their products.

The company, which filed an application to use the name in 2011 and was granted initial approval in 2014, specialises in porridges and drinks that taste like milk. 

Read more: Four things to expect from Facebook at its big tech conference 

The ruling has led to speculation that Facebook could be about to penetrate the "Great Firewall" of China, which currently refuses to allow many Western websites, including the social network, to be available in the world's most populous country. 

Apple Inc lost a battle last month to prevent a Chinese company from using the "iPhone" trademark on leather goods. 

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