A five-year legal battle between two apparel companies France-based La Chemise Lacoste SA and Hong Kong-headquartered Crocodile Garments over the use of different crocodile logos in China has finally settled.

The two companies have been arguing since 1998 over the use of their lizard logos in the lucrative Asian market.

The settlement will see Crocodile Garments stop selling fashions featuring its crocodile in mainland China by 2006 at which point it will replace the reptile with a croc with a curly tail and circled.

"We reached an agreement in a Beijing court today," commented Crocodile Garments executive director Matthew Lam. "Lacoste will drop the infringement action against us."