A small hotel in Liupanshui, Guizhou, is facing an uncertain future after a court ruled it infringed on the trademark of the "7 Days Inn" chain. The Seven Days Express Hotel (七日快捷酒店) has been ordered to pay 100,000 yuan in damages, a decision the local business says it cannot afford to comply with.

熊女士, the store manager of the Seven Days Express Hotel, said the hotel has operated in Liupanshui for years without any customer ever confusing it with the larger chain. It was not until March or April this year that court officials arrived with a lawsuit notice, revealing that the hotel was being sued by 7 Days Inn. She stated that the hotel's signage, linens, and promotional materials were all independently designed, with no use of the 7 Days Inn logo or slogans. Even during the business registration process, the relevant authorities did not flag any potential trademark conflicts.

The manager expressed shock at the lawsuit and the 100,000 yuan claim, saying the legal dispute has already hurt the hotel's operations. A summer retreat group that had placed a deposit cancelled their booking after learning of the litigation, and some long-term guests have also stopped staying. "To keep the doors open, the boss has been working as a steel worker at a construction site in his spare time to subsidise costs," she said. "We have four employees, many of whom have worked here for three to five years and rely on this income to support their families. If the appeals court upholds the original verdict, we won't be able to afford the required changes, and the hotel will have to close, leaving our staff jobless."

The hotel maintains that it had no intention of capitalising on the other brand's reputation, noting its business name was lawfully registered. They have appealed the decision and paid the necessary fees, though a hearing date for the second trial has yet to be scheduled.