Trademark

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by Yang Hua  Connie Zhuang     King & Wood’s Intellectual Property  Group

On September 2, 2011, the Legislative Affairs Office of China’s State Council released a circular seeking public comments on proposed revisions to the Trademark Law of the People’s Republic of China (the "Draft Revisions").

The most notable amendments in the Draft Revisions are provisions aimed at preventing bad faith filings and changes to the trademark opposition procedures.Continue Reading The Revised Trademark Law of China Open for Public Comment

金杜律师事务所知识产权组

2011年9月2日，《中华人民共和国商标法》（修订草案征求意见稿，“修订草案”）已由国务院法制办公室向社会公布，公开征求意见。

“修订草案”中最为瞩目的修改内容包括制止恶意抢注方面的规定以及商标异议程序的变化。

“修订草案”规定，如商标申请人与权利人因存在合同、业务往来、地域关系或其他关系而知晓权利人在中国大陆在先使用的商标却恶意申请，即使权利人的商标在中国大陆尚未因足够的使用已产生一定影响，也可能得到保护；而且，如权利人的商标显著性较强且具有一定影响，可阻止他人在非类似商品上抢注与之容易导致混淆的商标。前述规定对制止当前较为猖獗的违反诚实信用原则的恶意申请具有一定的作用，但尚不能完全解决所有问题。Continue Reading 关于《中华人民共和国商标法》（修订草案征求意见稿）的主要内容简介

By King & Wood’s Trademark  Practice

The mark "日本電產" (Japan Densan in Chinese Characters) is also the short form of the enterprise name of its owner Nippon Densan Corporation (now Nidec Corporation). As a trade name, it is unique and distinctive. However, when being filed for registration as a trademark, "日本電產" ("Japan Densan in Chinese Characters") must also bear the distinctiveness that is required of a trademark.Continue Reading What is proven, the Use of Trademark or Trade Name?

By King & Wood’s Trademark Practice

The Law of the Application of Law for Foreign-related Civil Relations of the People’s Republic of China was promulgated on October 28, 2010 and will come into force on April 1, 2011. The new law absorbs the latest achievements of the research and legislation in the field of the private international laws, which is widely viewed as having reflected the contemporary legislation ideas and incorporated innovative rules, and the issuance of this law would have accomplished the systemization and modernization of the conflicting rules concerning foreign-related relations in Chinese legislation system.Continue Reading China’s New Foreign-Related Civil Relations Law Harmonizes Conflicting Rules

By King & Wood’s Trademark Practice

On December 16, 2009, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) of the People’s Republic of China announced that it approved the registration of Cognac as a geographic indication, which is the first foreign geographic indication protected in China. On October 9, 2010, Scotch whisky was also recognized as a geographic indication, as a result of three-year discussion between the Scotch Whisky Association and the Chinese government. This will provide better protection for Cognac and Scotch whisky in China, which will also guarantee purchase of genuine Cognac and Scotch Whisky to the local consumers.Continue Reading Cognac and Scotch Whisky obtain GI Protection in China

By King & Wood’sTrademark Practice

In September 15, 2010, WIPO released the World Intellectual Property Indicators for 2010. According to the report, the global financial crisis has affected the innovation activity in 2008 and 2009 and the growth data shows a slowdown. Yet China has shown strong growth in trademark filings. While total trademark applications worldwide fell by 0.9% in 2008, China saw 20.8% growth. The total number of trademark registrations worldwide grew by 7%, which China accounted for around 90% of the growth.Continue Reading China Stands Out in Trademark Applications

 By Kenneth Choy, Partner, King & Wood Hong Kong

Rhombus Hotel and Resorts is a Vancouver based group that owns and operates three boutique hotels in Hong Kong. They are planning to open a fourth one next year to be named “Hotel MO by Rhombus” that they described in their website as “a Modern and Outstanding boutique hotel” in the heart of the Western District in Hong Kong.  As part of the preparation for the hotel opening, they formed two Hong Kong companies, HOTEL MO LIMITED and HOTEL MO MANAGEMENT LIMITED. As they gear up for the opening, they encountered opposition from a major hotel group.Continue Reading Hotel Trademark Dispute in Hong Kong

 By Fu Haiying, Partner, King & Wood’s IP Department

On April 24, 2009, the Changsha Intermediate People’s Court (the "Court") made a judgment in Michelin Group vs. Tan Guoqiang and Ou Can. In this first instance, the Court ruled that the Defendants, tire dealers Tan Guoqiang and Ou Can, infringed upon the Plaintiff’s exclusive right to use the registered trademark, "MICHELIN & Device," by selling imported Japanese-made tires (targeting the Brazilian market) without consent from the trademark owner and without obtaining a Chinese Compulsory Product Certification ("3C Certification").Continue Reading Trademark Infringement in Parallel Importation