Gasgoo.com (Shanghai October 14) - The near-four year confrontation regarding intellectual rights infringement between Great Wall and Fiat may soon be coming to a close. Great Wall announced yesterday that it would not be appealing against Fiat's claim in Italian courts that exterior design of its Peri copied that of the Italian manufacturer's Panda, the Beijing Times reported today. Great Wall reportedly dropped the case because it felt that to continue to fight was not in its marketing, business or economic interests.

Originally in mid-2007, Fiat launched a lawsuit against Great Wall at the Shijiazhuang Intermediate People's Court claiming that the Peri (pictured above) infringed on the Panda's (pictured below) exclusive design right. The Hebei High People's Court rebuked the claim the next year. Then, in June of this year, Great Wall filed a similar suit against Fiat in the local courts, stating it had evidence that Fiat employees had been spotted taking pictures at its R&D sites. The 'spygate' caught the attention of media worldwide. The suit was made against Fiat's headquarters in Shanghai, who refused to acknowledge it.

The Peri is no longer being produced, having had its manufacture halted as early as September of last year. Furthermore, the car has not been exported to Europe. Fiat, having already had its claim rebuffed, cannot re file a claim in the Chinese court system.