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SHANGHAI, CHINA - ITALIAN fashion group Gucci has won a suit against a Chinese shoe maker that counterfeited the exclusive 'GG' logo in its footwear, state media said on Tuesday.

Senda Group, based in Jiangsu province in eastern China, was ordered to pay Gucci 180,000 yuan (S$34,862) in damages, the Oriental Morning Post reported, citing a ruling by the Shanghai Pudong New Area People's court.

The other defendant, Shanghai No.1 Yaohan Department Store, was told to immediately take the shoes off its shelves, according to the ruling handed down on Monday.

Gucci had asked for damages of 610,000 yuan but the court said although the sandals made by Senda were 'misleading', the department store was not required to pay any damages because it was 'unaware of the infringement.'

Gucci representatives told the court that the company found in August 2006 the store was selling the counterfeits at 187 yuan a pair, or only around five percent of the price of authentic Gucci sandals, according to the report.

Senda had counterfeited Gucci's interlocking 'GG' logo in the padding cloth of the ladies sandals, it said.

Officials with the court were not immediately available to comment when contacted by reporters on Tuesday.

Flawed protection of intellectual property rights in China is a constant concern among foreign companies, especially producers of luxury items whose main asset is the exclusivity of their brand. -- AFP