[1] Chan founded his company, then called the Li Wah Man Shirt Factory, in 1952.

[2][4] The company was able to secure the trademark, initially registered in 1910[5] by Germans, before it was confiscated by British authorities after World War II.

[14] Despite the Hong Kong distribution deal with Lacoste, Crocodile had a long-standing dispute over the logo and clothing lines with the French company.

When Crocodile attempted to apply for a trademark in mainland China, however, Lacoste filed lawsuits in 1998 in both Hong Kong and Beijing, asking for a 3.5-million-yuan compensation.

[15] The two fought an extended fight for logo rights in China, but eventually reached a compromise in 2003.

The high court upheld rulings from lower tribunals, dismissing Lacoste's lawsuit against Crocodile over the brand logo dispute.