On August 27th, in Tongliang, Chongqing, a hotel operator named Mr. Tong received news from the court that Atour had withdrawn its lawsuit against his establishment. He subsequently received the electronic court ruling, marking a turning point in a case that had caused him immense stress.

Mr. Tong, who operates the Duoya Hotel, took over the property in December 2025. The transfer fee was raised through family loans and borrowings, and the hotel operates as a micro-business with only four employees, including himself. When Atour sued for trademark infringement, Mr. Tong disagreed with the claim, arguing that infringement requires three conditions: similar trademarks, identical product categories, and a likelihood of confusion.

Mr. Tong pointed out that the evidence provided by Atour only showed the hotel's name, "Duoya," without any proof of actual consumer confusion, brand reputation exploitation, or customer misidentification. Under immense pressure from the lawsuit, he suffered from insomnia and saw his hair turn gray. Unable to afford expensive legal representation, he resorted to using AI to self-study relevant laws to prepare for his defense.

The hotel serves as the primary source of income for his entire family, leaving him with no alternative options. Reports indicate that Atour, a major hotel chain, had sued Duoya Hotel for trademark infringement, demanding 100,000 yuan in compensation, cessation of use of related signage, and a change of the enterprise name. The case was originally scheduled for trial on August 28th.

When asked about the withdrawal, Mr. Tong choked up, stating he always believed the situation would end well and that his approach was valid. He immediately called his family to share the good news.