The recent success by King & Wood Mallesons in representing its Australian client in invalidating series of “西瓜忍者(Watermelon Ninja in Chinese characters)” trademarks, is a good example to show how the CNIPA applies Article 44 (1) in such bad faith related cases.
Continue Reading Invalidation against “西瓜忍者 (Watermelon Ninja in Chinese)” by “水果忍者 (Fruit Ninja in Chinese)” of Hlafbrick Studios Pty Ltd – a Typical Example of how Article 44 Applies to Trademark Squatting
trademark squatting
Eight Key Points about the Third Amendment to the PRC Trademark Law
By King & Wood Mallesons on
Posted in Intellectual Property
By King & Wood Mallesons’ Trademark Group
The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress passed the Third Amendment to the PRC Trademark Law (“Revised Trademark Law”) on August 30, 2013. The new Trademark Law will be implemented on May 1, 2014.
Continue Reading Eight Key Points about the Third Amendment to the PRC Trademark Law
China develop its Chinese Trademark Clearing House for more protection towards trademark owners
By King & Wood Mallesons on
Posted in Intellectual Property
by King & Wood Mallesons’ Trademark Group
Currently there is a problem where the worldwide Trademark Clearing House cannot extend its service to Chinese users. On 16th June, for the sake of solving the above problem, the China Organizational Name Administration Center released a system, which provides preventive protection to Chinese domain names and trademarks. This localizes the services of trademark clearing house, as well as enhances the legal protection offered to Chinese trademark owners on the worldwide platform of the Internet.
Continue Reading China develop its Chinese Trademark Clearing House for more protection towards trademark owners
The Supreme People’s Court: Giving Full Play to Intellectual Property Trial Functions
By King & Wood Mallesons on
Posted in Intellectual Property
By King & Wood Mallesons’ Trademark Group
On December 16, 2011, the Supreme People’s Court of China issued the Opinions on Exerting the Function of Intellectual Property Rights Judgment to Facilitate Socialist Cultural Development and Prosperity and Promote Independent and Coordinated Economic Development (the "Opinions"). The Opinions provide several guidelines on the trial of trademark infringement cases, which mainly touch upon the following issues:
a. Deliberate plagiarism in bad faith. To determine whether an alleged infringer has acted in bad faith, the trial court shall adopt comprehensive criteria by taking into account the reputation and distinctiveness of trademarks, similarities between trademarks and designated goods, and whether the applicant/registrant has the intention to use the mark and the improper use of the marks, such as trademark squatting and free-riding activities.…
一最高人民法院最新有关充分发挥知识产权审判职能作用的意见
By King & Wood Mallesons on
Posted in Intellectual Property
作者：金杜律师事务所商标组
2011年12月16日，最高人民法院印发了《关于充分发挥知识产权审判职能作用推动社会主义文化大发展大繁荣和促进经济自主协调发展若干问题的意见》的通知，针对知识产权问题的审判工作提供了指导性意见，其中有关商标的重要内容包括：
1. 关于恶意抢注等不正当行为： 依法加强商标权保护，要根据商标的知名度、显著程度等，恰当运用商标近似、商品类似、在先使用并且有一定影响的商标、以欺骗或者其他不正当手段取得商标注册等裁量性法律标准，妥善把握商标注册申请人或者注册人是否有真实使用意图，以及结合商标使用过程中的“傍名牌”行为认定主观恶意等加大遏制恶意抢注、“傍名牌”等不正当行为的力度。…