Trademark Law of the People's Republic of China
(Passedatthe24thmeetingoftheStandingCommitteeoftheFifthNationalPeople'sCongressonAugust23,1982,amendedforthefirsttimeinaccordancewiththeDecisiononAmendingtheTrademarkLawofthePeople'sRepublicofChinamadeatthe30thmeetingoftheStandingCommitteeoftheSeventhNationalPeople'sCongressonFebruary22,1993,andamendedforthesecondtimeinaccordancewiththeDecisiononAmendingtheTrademarkLawofthePeople'sRepublicofChinamadeatthe24thmeetingoftheStandingCommitteeoftheNinthNationalPeople'sCongressonOctober27,2001)catalogueChapter1GeneralProvisionsChapter2:ApplicationforTrademarkRegistrationChapter3ExaminationandApprovalofTrademarkRegistrationChapter4:Renewal,Transfer,andLicenseofRegisteredTrademarksChapter5:AdjudicationofDisputesoverRegisteredTrademarksChapter6ManagementofTrademarkUseChapter7ProtectionofExclusiveRightstoRegisteredTrademarksChapter8SupplementaryProvisionsChapter1GeneralProvisionsArticle1:Inordertostrengthentrademarkmanagement,protecttrademarkexclusiverights,promoteproducersandoperatorstoensurethequalityofgoodsandservices,maintaintrademarkreputation,safeguardtheinterestsofconsumersandproducersandoperators,andpromotethedevelopmentofthesocialistmarketeconomy,thisLawisformulated.Article2:TheTrademarkOfficeoftheStateAdministrationforIndustryandCommerceisresponsiblefortheregistrationandmanagementoftrademarksnationwide.TheStateAdministrationforIndustryandCommerceshallestablishaTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardtohandletrademarkdisputes.Article3:TrademarksapprovedforregistrationbytheTrademarkOfficeareregisteredtrademarks,includingcommoditytrademarks,servicetrademarks,collectivetrademarks,andcertificationtrademarks;Thetrademarkregistrantenjoystheexclusiverighttousethetrademarkandisprotectedbylaw.ThecollectivetrademarkreferredtointhisLawreferstoamarkregisteredinthenameofagroup,association,orotherorganizationforusebyitsmembersincommercialactivities,toindicatetheuser'smembershipintheorganization.ThecertificationtrademarkreferredtointhisLawreferstoamarkcontrolledbyanorganizationwithsupervisoryabilityoveracertaincommodityorservice,andusedbyunitsorindividualsoutsidetheorganizationtoprovetheorigin,rawmaterials,manufacturingmethods,qualityorotherspecificqualitiesofthecommodityorservice.SpecialmattersregardingtheregistrationandmanagementofcollectivetrademarksandcertificationtrademarksshallbestipulatedbytheStateAdministrationforIndustryandCommerce.Article4:Ifanaturalperson,legalperson,orotherorganizationneedstoobtainexclusivetrademarkrightsforthegoodstheyproduce,manufacture,process,select,ordistribute,theyshallapplytotheTrademarkOfficefortrademarkregistrationofthegoods.Ifnaturalpersons,legalpersonsorotherorganizationsneedtoobtainexclusivetrademarkrightsfortheservicestheyprovide,theyshallapplyforregistrationofservicetrademarkswiththeTrademarkOffice.Theprovisionsofthislawregardingcommoditytrademarksapplytoservicetrademarks.Article5:Twoormorenaturalpersons,legalpersonsorotherorganizationsmayjointlyapplytotheTrademarkOfficeforregistrationofthesametrademarkandjointlyenjoyandexercisetheexclusiverighttousethetrademark.Article6:Goodsthatarerequiredbythestatetouseregisteredtrademarksmustapplyfortrademarkregistration,andthosethathavenotbeenapprovedforregistrationshallnotbesoldinthemarket.Article7:Thetrademarkusershallberesponsibleforthequalityofthegoodsinwhichthetrademarkisused.Theadministrativedepartmentsforindustryandcommerceatalllevelsshouldusetrademarkmanagementtopreventdeceptivebehaviortowardsconsumers.Article8:Anyvisualmarkthatcandistinguishthegoodsofnaturalpersons,legalpersonsorotherorganizationsfromthoseofothers,includingtext,graphics,letters,numbers,three-dimensionalmarksandcolorcombinations,aswellascombinationsoftheaboveelements,canberegisteredasatrademarkapplication.Article9:Thetrademarkappliedforregistrationshallhaveprominentfeatures,beeasytoidentify,andshallnotconflictwiththelegitimaterightspreviouslyobtainedbyothers.Thetrademarkregistranthastherighttoindicate"registeredtrademark"orregistrationmark.Article10:Thefollowingsignsshallnotbeusedastrademarks:（1）Thosethatareidenticalorsimilartothenationalname,nationalflag,nationalemblem,militaryflag,ormedalsofthePeople'sRepublicofChina,aswellasthosethatareidenticaltothenamesordesignsofspecificlocationsoriconicbuildingswherecentralstateorgansarelocated;（2）Sameorsimilartothename,flag,emblem,ormilitaryflagofaforeigncountry,exceptwiththeconsentofthegovernmentofthatcountry;（3）Names,flags,oremblemsofintergovernmentalinternationalorganizationsthatareidenticalorsimilar,exceptwiththeconsentoftheorganizationorthatarenoteasilymisleadingtothepublic;（4）Anyofficiallogoorinspectionmarkthatisidenticalorsimilartotheoneindicatingtheimplementationofcontrolandguarantee,exceptforthoseauthorized;（5）NamesorsymbolsthatareidenticalorsimilartothoseoftheRedCrossorRedCrescent;（6）Discriminatorytowardsethnicgroups;（7）Exaggeratedanddeceptiveadvertising;（8）Harmfultosocialistmoralstandardsorhavingotheradverseeffects.Geographicalnamesofadministrativedivisionsatorabovethecountylevelorforeigngeographicalnamesknowntothepublicshallnotbeusedastrademarks.However,exceptforplacenamesthathaveothermeaningsorarepartofcollectivetrademarksorcertificationtrademarks;Registeredtrademarksusingplacenamesremainvalid.Article11:Thefollowingsignsshallnotberegisteredastrademarks:（1）Onlythecommonname,graphic,andmodelofthisproductareavailable;（2）Directlyindicatingthequality,mainrawmaterials,functions,uses,weight,quantity,andothercharacteristicsoftheproduct;（3）Lackingsignificantfeatures.Themarkslistedintheprecedingparagraphthathaveacquiredsignificantfeaturesthroughuseandareeasytoidentifycanberegisteredastrademarks.Article12:Ifatrademarkisappliedforregistrationusingathree-dimensionalsymbol,theshapeoftheproductthatissolelygeneratedbyitsownnature,theshapeoftheproductrequiredtoobtaintechnicaleffects,ortheshapethatgivestheproductsubstantialvalue,shallnotberegistered.Article13:Ifatrademarkappliedforregistrationofthesameorsimilargoodsisacopy,imitation,ortranslationofawell-knowntrademarkthathasnotbeenregisteredinChinaandislikelytocauseconfusion,itshallnotberegisteredanditsuseshallbeprohibited.Ifatrademarkappliedforregistrationofdifferentordissimilargoodsisacopy,imitation,ortranslationofawell-knowntrademarkalreadyregisteredbyothersinChina,misleadingthepublicandpotentiallydamagingtheinterestsoftheregistrantofthewell-knowntrademark,itshallnotberegisteredanditsuseshallbeprohibited.Article14:Therecognitionofawell-knowntrademarkshalltakeintoaccountthefollowingfactors:（1）Thelevelofawarenessofthetrademarkamongtherelevantpublic;（2）Thedurationofuseofthetrademark;（3）Theduration,extent,andgeographicalscopeofanypromotionalworkforthetrademark;（4）Therecordofthetrademarkbeingprotectedasawell-knowntrademark;（5）Otherfactorsthatmakethetrademarkfamous.Article15:Ifanagentorrepresentativeregistersatrademarkofaprincipalorrepresentativeintheirownnamewithoutauthorization,andtheprincipalorrepresentativeraisesanobjection,theregistrationshallnotbegrantedandtheuseshallbeprohibited.Article16:Ifatrademarkcontainsageographicalindicationofacommoditythatdoesnotoriginatefromtheregionindicatedbytheindicationandmisleadsthepublic,itshallnotberegisteredanditsuseshallbeprohibited;However,theregistrationobtainedingoodfaithremainsvalid.Thegeographicalindicationreferredtointheprecedingparagraphreferstotheindicationthatacertaincommodityoriginatesfromacertainregion,andthespecificquality,reputation,orothercharacteristicsofthecommodityaremainlydeterminedbythenaturalorculturalfactorsofthatregion.Article17:ForeignersorforeignenterprisesapplyingfortrademarkregistrationinChinashallhandleitinaccordancewiththeagreementssignedbetweentheirrespectivecountriesandthePeople'sRepublicofChinaorinternationaltreatiesjointlyparticipatedin,orinaccordancewiththeprincipleofreciprocity.Article18:ForeignersorforeignenterprisesapplyingfortrademarkregistrationandhandlingothertrademarkmattersinChinashallentrustorganizationsrecognizedbythestatewithtrademarkagencyqualificationstoactasagents.Chapter2:ApplicationforTrademarkRegistrationArticle19:Thosewhoapplyfortrademarkregistrationshallfillinthecommoditycategoryandcommoditynameusingthetrademarkaccordingtotheprescribedcommodityclassificationtable.Article20:Iftheapplicantfortrademarkregistrationappliesforthesametrademarkongoodsofdifferentcategories,theyshallsubmittheregistrationapplicationaccordingtotheclassificationtableofgoods.Article21:Ifaregisteredtrademarkneedstobeusedonothergoodsofthesameclass,aseparateregistrationapplicationshallbesubmitted.Article22:Ifaregisteredtrademarkneedstochangeitslogo,anewregistrationapplicationshallbesubmitted.Article23:Ifaregisteredtrademarkrequiresachangeinthename,address,orotherregistrationdetailsoftheregistrant,anapplicationforchangeshallbesubmitted.Article24:IftheapplicantfortrademarkregistrationfilesatrademarkregistrationapplicationforthesamegoodswiththesametrademarkinChinawithinsixmonthsfromthedateofthefirstfilingofthetrademarkregistrationapplicationinaforeigncountry,theymayenjoypriorityinaccordancewiththeagreementsignedbetweentheforeigncountryandChinaortheinternationaltreatyjointlyparticipatedin,orinaccordancewiththeprincipleofmutualrecognitionofpriority.Ifpriorityisclaimedinaccordancewiththeprecedingparagraph,awrittendeclarationshallbesubmittedatthetimeoffilingthetrademarkregistrationapplication,andacopyofthefirsttrademarkregistrationapplicationdocumentshallbesubmittedwithinthreemonths;Ifnowrittendeclarationismadeoracopyofthetrademarkregistrationapplicationdocumentsisnotsubmittedwithintheprescribedtime,itshallbedeemedthatnopriorityrighthasbeenclaimed.Article25:IfatrademarkisfirstusedongoodsexhibitedataninternationalexhibitionsponsoredorrecognizedbytheChinesegovernment,theapplicantforregistrationofthetrademarkmayenjoyprioritywithinsixmonthsfromthedateofexhibitionofthegoods.Ifpriorityisclaimedinaccordancewiththeprecedingparagraph,awrittendeclarationshallbesubmittedatthetimeoffilingthetrademarkregistrationapplication,andproofdocumentssuchastheexhibitionnameoftheexhibitedgoods,evidenceoftheuseofthetrademarkontheexhibitedgoods,andtheexhibitiondateshallbesubmittedwithinthreemonths;Ifnowrittendeclarationismadeornosupportingdocumentsaresubmittedwithintheprescribedtimelimit,itshallbedeemedthatpriorityhasnotbeenclaimed.Article26:Themattersdeclaredandmaterialsprovidedforapplyingfortrademarkregistrationshallbetrue,accurate,andcomplete.Chapter3ExaminationandApprovalofTrademarkRegistrationArticle27:AnytrademarkappliedforregistrationthatcomplieswiththerelevantprovisionsofthisLawshallbepreliminarilyapprovedbytheTrademarkOfficeandpublished.Article28:IfatrademarkappliedforregistrationdoesnotcomplywiththerelevantprovisionsofthisLaworisidenticalorsimilartoatrademarkalreadyregisteredorpreliminarilyapprovedbyothersonthesameorsimilargoods,theTrademarkOfficeshallrejecttheapplicationandnotpublishit.Article29:Iftwoormoretrademarkregistrationapplicantsapplyforregistrationofthesameorsimilartrademarksonthesameorsimilargoods,thetrademarkwiththeearlierapplicationshallbepreliminarilyapprovedandannounced;Onthesamedayofapplication,thetrademarkwithprioruseshallbepreliminarilyapprovedandpublished,andotherapplicationsshallberejectedandnotpublished.Article30:Anyonemayraiseanobjectiontoatrademarkthathasbeenpreliminarilyapprovedwithinthreemonthsfromthedateofpublication.Iftherearenoobjectionsupontheexpirationoftheannouncementperiod,theregistrationshallbeapproved,atrademarkregistrationcertificateshallbeissued,andtheannouncementshallbemade.Article31:Theapplicationfortrademarkregistrationshallnotinfringeupontheexistingpriorrightsofothers,norshallituseimpropermeanstopreemptivelyregistertrademarksthathavealreadybeenusedbyothersandhaveacertainimpact.Article32:Fortrademarksthathavebeenrejectedornotpublished,theTrademarkOfficeshallnotifythetrademarkregistrationapplicantinwriting.Iftheapplicantfortrademarkregistrationisdissatisfied,theymayapplyforareviewtotheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardwithin15daysfromthedateofreceivingthenotice.TheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardshallmakeadecisionandnotifytheapplicantinwriting.IfthepartiesconcernedaredissatisfiedwiththedecisionoftheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoard,theymayfilealawsuitwiththepeople'scourtwithin30daysfromthedateofreceivingthenotice.Article33:Ifanobjectionisraisedagainstatrademarkthathasbeenpreliminarilyapprovedandpublished,theTrademarkOfficeshallhearthefactsandreasonsstatedbytheobjectorandtherespondent,andmakearulingafterinvestigationandverification.Ifthepartiesconcernedaredissatisfied,theymayapplyforareviewtotheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardwithin15daysfromthedateofreceivingthenotice.TheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardshallmakearulingandnotifytheobjectorandtherespondentinwriting.IfthepartiesconcernedaredissatisfiedwiththerulingoftheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoard,theymayfilealawsuitwiththepeople'scourtwithin30daysfromthedateofreceivingthenotice.Thepeople'scourtshallnotifytheopposingpartyinthetrademarkreviewproceduretoparticipateinthelitigationasathirdparty.Article34:IfthepartyconcerneddoesnotapplyforareviewoftherulingmadebytheTrademarkOfficewithinthestatutorytimelimitordoesnotfilealawsuitwiththepeople'scourtagainsttherulingmadebytheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoard,therulingshalltakeeffect.Iftheobjectioncannotbeestablishedafterruling,theregistrationshallbeapproved,atrademarkregistrationcertificateshallbeissued,andapublicannouncementshallbemade;Iftheobjectionisfoundtobevalid,theregistrationwillnotbeapproved.Iftheobjectionisruledtobeunfoundedandtheregistrationisapproved,thetimeforthetrademarkregistrationapplicanttoobtaintheexclusiverighttousethetrademarkshallbecalculatedfromtheexpirationofthreemonthsaftertheinitialexaminationannouncement.Article35:Trademarkregistrationapplicationsandtrademarkreviewapplicationsshallbereviewedinatimelymanner.Article36:Iftheapplicantorregistrantfortrademarkregistrationdiscoversobviouserrorsinthetrademarkapplicationdocumentsorregistrationdocuments,theymayapplyforcorrection.TheTrademarkOfficeshallmakecorrectionswithinitsjurisdictioninaccordancewiththelawandnotifythepartiesinvolved.Thecorrectionoferrorsreferredtointheprecedingparagraphdoesnotinvolvethesubstantivecontentofthetrademarkapplicationdocumentsorregistrationdocuments.Chapter4:Renewal,Transfer,andLicenseofRegisteredTrademarksArticle37:Thevalidityperiodofaregisteredtrademarkistenyears,calculatedfromthedateofapprovalofregistration.Article38:Ifaregisteredtrademarkexpiresandneedstobecontinuedtobeused,anapplicationforrenewalofregistrationshallbemadewithinsixmonthsbeforetheexpiration;Ifnoapplicationissubmittedduringthisperiod,asix-monthgraceperiodcanbegranted.Ifnoapplicationissubmittedaftertheexpirationofthegraceperiod,theregisteredtrademarkshallbecancelled.Thevalidityperiodofeachrenewalregistrationistenyears.Aftertherenewalregistrationisapproved,itwillbeannounced.Article39:Ifaregisteredtrademarkistransferred,thetransferorandthetransfereeshallsignatransferagreementandjointlyapplytotheTrademarkOffice.Theassigneeshallensurethequalityofthegoodsusingtheregisteredtrademark.Afterthetransferoftheregisteredtrademarkisapproved,itshallbeannounced.Theassigneeshallenjoytheexclusiverighttousethetrademarkfromthedateofannouncement.Article40:Thetrademarkregistrantmaylicenseotherstousetheirregisteredtrademarkbysigningatrademarklicenseagreement.Thelicensorshallsupervisethequalityofthegoodsinwhichthelicenseeusesitsregisteredtrademark.Thelicenseeshallensurethequalityofthegoodsusingtheregisteredtrademark.Thosewhousesomeoneelse'sregisteredtrademarkwithpermissionmustindicatethenameofthelicenseeandtheplaceoforiginofthegoodsusingtheregisteredtrademark.ThetrademarklicensecontractshallbefiledwiththeTrademarkOfficeforrecord.Chapter5:AdjudicationofDisputesoverRegisteredTrademarksArticle41:IfaregisteredtrademarkviolatestheprovisionsofArticles10,11,and12ofthisLaw,orobtainsregistrationthroughdeceptionorotherimpropermeans,theTrademarkOfficeshallrevoketheregisteredtrademark;OtherunitsorindividualsmayrequesttheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardtomakearulingtorevoketheregisteredtrademark.IfaregisteredtrademarkviolatestheprovisionsofArticles13,15,16,and31ofthisLaw,thetrademarkownerorinterestedpartymayrequesttheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardtorevoketheregisteredtrademarkwithinfiveyearsfromthedateoftrademarkregistration.Formaliciousregistrations,theownerofawell-knowntrademarkisnotsubjecttoafive-yeartimelimit.Exceptasprovidedintheprecedingtwoparagraphs,ifthereisadisputeoveraregisteredtrademark,anapplicationforarulingmaybemadetotheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardwithinfiveyearsfromthedateofapprovalofthetrademarkregistration.Afterreceivingtheapplicationforaruling,theTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardshallnotifytherelevantpartiesandsetadeadlineforthemtosubmittheirdefense.Article42:Fortrademarksthathavealreadybeenobjectedtoandruleduponbeforeapprovalofregistration,noapplicationforarulingshallbemadebasedonthesamefactsandreasons.Article43:AftertheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardmakesarulingtomaintainorrevokearegisteredtrademark,itshallnotifytherelevantpartiesinwriting.IfthepartiesconcernedaredissatisfiedwiththerulingoftheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoard,theymayfilealawsuitwiththepeople'scourtwithin30daysfromthedateofreceivingthenotice.Thepeople'scourtshallnotifytheopposingpartyinthetrademarkadjudicationproceduretoparticipateinthelitigationasathirdparty.Chapter6ManagementofTrademarkUseArticle44:Ifaregisteredtrademarkisusedandanyofthefollowingbehaviorsarecommitted,theTrademarkOfficeshallorderittorectifyorrevokeitsregisteredtrademarkwithinaspecifiedperiodoftime:（1）Changingtheregisteredtrademarkonone'sown;（2）Changingthename,address,orotherregistrationdetailsoftheregistrantofaregisteredtrademarkontheirown;（3）Transferringregisteredtrademarksontheirown;（4）Discontinueduseforthreeconsecutiveyears.Article45:Ifaregisteredtrademarkisusedanditsgoodsareshoddy,substandard,ordeceiveconsumers,theadministrativedepartmentsforindustryandcommerceatalllevelsshall,dependingonthecircumstances,orderittorectifywithinaspecifiedperiodoftimeandmayissueanoticeorimposeafine,orthetrademarkofficemayrevokeitsregisteredtrademark.Article46:Ifaregisteredtrademarkisrevokedornolongerreneweduponexpiration,theTrademarkOfficeshallnotapproveanytrademarkregistrationapplicationthatisidenticalorsimilartothetrademarkwithinoneyearfromthedateofrevocationorcancellation.Article47:ThosewhoviolatetheprovisionsofArticle6ofthisLawshallbeorderedbythelocaladministrationforindustryandcommercetoapplyforregistrationwithinaspecifiedtimelimitandmaybefined.Article48:Thosewhouseunregisteredtrademarksandengageinanyofthefollowingbehaviorsshallbestoppedbythelocaladministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommerce,correctedwithinatimelimit,andmaybenotifiedorfined:（1）Impersonatingaregisteredtrademark;（2）ViolationofArticle10ofthisLaw;（3）Shoddyproduction,passingoffinferiorgoodsasgood,deceivingconsumers.Article49:IfapartyisdissatisfiedwiththedecisionoftheTrademarkOfficetorevokearegisteredtrademark,theymayapplyforareviewtotheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardwithin15daysfromthedateofreceivingthenotice.TheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardshallmakeadecisionandnotifytheapplicantinwriting.IfthepartiesconcernedaredissatisfiedwiththedecisionoftheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoard,theymayfilealawsuitwiththepeople'scourtwithin30daysfromthedateofreceivingthenotice.Article50:IfapartyisdissatisfiedwiththefinedecisionmadebytheadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommerceinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofArticles45,47,and48ofthisLaw,theymayfilealawsuitwiththepeople'scourtwithin15daysfromthedateofreceivingthenotice;Ifnolawsuitisfiledandnoperformanceismadeuponexpiration,therelevantadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommerceshallapplytothepeople'scourtforcompulsoryenforcement.Chapter7ProtectionofExclusiveRightstoRegisteredTrademarksArticle51:Theexclusiverighttousearegisteredtrademarkislimitedtothetrademarkthathasbeenapprovedforregistrationandthegoodsthathavebeenapprovedforuse.Article52:Anyofthefollowingactsshallconstituteaninfringementoftheexclusiverighttousearegisteredtrademark:（1）Usingatrademarkthatisidenticalorsimilartotheregisteredtrademarkonthesameorsimilargoodswithoutthepermissionofthetrademarkregistrant;（2）Sellinggoodsthatinfringeupontheexclusiverightsofaregisteredtrademark;（3）Falsifyingorillegallymanufacturingregisteredtrademarklogosofothers,orsellingforgedorillegallymanufacturedregisteredtrademarklogos;（4）Changingtheregisteredtrademarkwithouttheconsentofthetrademarkregistrantandputtingthegoodswiththechangedtrademarkbackonthemarket;（5）Causingotherdamagestotheexclusiverighttousearegisteredtrademarkforothers.Article53:IfanyoftheactslistedinArticle52ofthisLawinfringeupontheexclusiverighttousearegisteredtrademarkandcauseadispute,thepartiesshallresolveitthroughconsultation;Ifthetrademarkregistrantorinterestedpartyisunwillingtonegotiateorfailstoreachanagreement,theymayfilealawsuitwiththepeople'scourtorrequesttheadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommercetohandleit.Whentheadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommercehandlesthecase,ifitdeterminesthattheinfringementisestablished,itshallbeorderedtoimmediatelystoptheinfringement,confiscateanddestroytheinfringinggoodsandtoolsspecificallyusedformanufacturinginfringinggoodsandforgingregisteredtrademarkmarks,andmaybefined.Ifthepartiesaredissatisfiedwiththehandlingdecision,theymayfilealawsuitwiththepeople'scourtinaccordancewiththeAdministrativeLitigationLawofthePeople'sRepublicofChinawithin15daysfromthedateofreceivingthehandlingnotice;Iftheinfringerfailstofilealawsuitorperformwithintheprescribedperiod,theadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommercemayapplytothepeople'scourtforcompulsoryenforcement.Theadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommercethathandlesthemattermaymediatetheamountofcompensationfortrademarkinfringementupontherequestofthepartiesinvolved;Ifmediationfails,thepartiesmaybringalawsuittothepeople'scourtinaccordancewiththeCivilProcedureLawofthePeople'sRepublicofChina.Article54:Theadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommercehastherighttoinvestigateandpunishactsthatinfringeupontheexclusiverighttousearegisteredtrademarkinaccordancewiththelaw;Thosesuspectedofcommittingcrimesshallbepromptlytransferredtojudicialorgansforlawfulhandling.Article55:Whentheadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommerceatorabovethecountylevelinvestigatesanddealswithactssuspectedofinfringingontheexclusiverighttousearegisteredtrademarkofothersbasedonevidenceorreportsofillegalactivitiesalreadyobtained,itmayexercisethefollowingpowers:（1）Inquireaboutrelevantpartiesandinvestigatethesituationrelatedtotheinfringementofothers'registeredtrademarkexclusiverights;（2）Searchandcopycontracts,invoices,accountbooks,andotherrelevantmaterialsrelatedtotheinfringingactivitiesofthepartiesinvolved;（3）Conducton-siteinspectionsofplaceswherethepartiesaresuspectedofengaginginactivitiesthatinfringeupontheexclusiverightsofothers'registeredtrademarks;（4）Inspectitemsrelatedtoinfringementactivities;Itemsthathavebeenproventoinfringeupontheexclusiverighttousearegisteredtrademarkofotherscanbesealedorseized.Whentheadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommerceexercisesthepowersstipulatedintheprecedingparagraphinaccordancewiththelaw,thepartiesshallassistandcooperate,andshallnotrefuseorobstruct.Article56:Theamountofcompensationforinfringementoftrademarkexclusiverightsshallbethebenefitsobtainedbytheinfringerduringtheinfringementperiod,orthelossessufferedbytheinfringedpartyduringtheinfringementperiod,includingreasonableexpensespaidbytheinfringedpartytostoptheinfringement.Ifthebenefitsobtainedbytheinfringerduetoinfringementorthelossessufferedbytheinfringedpartyduetoinfringementaredifficulttodetermine,thepeople'scourtshallawardcompensationofupto500000yuanbasedonthecircumstancesoftheinfringement.Sellinggoodsthatarenotknowntoinfringeupontheexclusiverightsofaregisteredtrademark,butcanprovethatthegoodswerelegallyobtainedbyoneselfandexplaintheprovider,shallnotbeliableforcompensation.Article57:Ifatrademarkregistrantoraninterestedpartyhasevidencetoprovethatothersarecommittingorabouttocommitactsthatinfringeupontheirexclusiverighttousearegisteredtrademark,andifnotstoppedinatimelymanner,itwillcauseirreparabledamagetotheirlegitimaterightsandinterests,theymayapplytothepeople'scourtformeasuressuchasorderingthecessationofrelevantactsandpropertypreservationbeforefilingalawsuit.Thepeople'scourtshallhandletheapplicationmentionedintheprecedingparagraphinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofArticles93to96and99oftheCivilProcedureLawofthePeople'sRepublicofChina.Article58:Inordertopreventinfringement,incaseswhereevidencemaybelostordifficulttoobtaininthefuture,thetrademarkregistrantorinterestedpartymayapplytothepeople'scourtforevidencepreservationbeforefilingalawsuit.Afteracceptingtheapplication,thepeople'scourtmustmakearulingwithin48hours;Ifpreservationmeasuresareordered,theyshallbeimmediatelyenforced.Thepeople'scourtmayordertheapplicanttoprovideguarantee.Iftheapplicantfailstoprovideguarantee,theapplicationshallberejected.Iftheapplicantdoesnotfilealawsuitwithinfifteendaysafterthepeople'scourttakespreservationmeasures,thepeople'scourtshallliftthepreservationmeasures.Article59:Ifatrademarkidenticaltotheregisteredtrademarkisusedonthesamegoodswithoutthepermissionofthetrademarkregistrant,whichconstitutesacrime,inadditiontocompensatingthelossesoftheinfringedparty,criminalresponsibilityshallbepursuedinaccordancewiththelaw.Ifsomeoneforgesormanufacturesaregisteredtrademarklogoofanotherpersonwithoutauthorization,orsellsaregisteredtrademarklogoforgedormanufacturedwithoutauthorization,whichconstitutesacrime,inadditiontocompensatingthelossesoftheinfringedparty,criminalresponsibilityshallbepursuedinaccordancewiththelaw.Ifsellinggoodsthatareknowntobecounterfeitregisteredtrademarksconstitutesacrime,inadditiontocompensatingthelossesoftheinfringedparty,criminalresponsibilityshallbepursuedinaccordancewiththelaw.Article60:Stateofficialsengagedintrademarkregistration,management,andreviewworkmustenforcethelawimpartially,behonestandselfdisciplined,beloyaltotheirduties,andprovidecivilizedservices.StaffmembersoftheTrademarkOffice,TrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoard,andstateagenciesengagedintrademarkregistration,management,andreviewshallnotengageintrademarkagencybusinessorcommodityproductionandoperationactivities.Article61:Theadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommerceshallestablishandimproveaninternalsupervisionsystem,andconductsupervisionandinspectionontheimplementationoflaws,administrativeregulations,anddisciplinebystateorgansresponsiblefortrademarkregistration,management,andreviewwork.Article62:Ifstateofficialsengagedintrademarkregistration,management,andreviewworkneglecttheirduties,abusetheirpower,engageinfavoritismandfraud,illegallyhandletrademarkregistration,management,andreviewmatters,acceptpropertyfromparties,andseekimproperbenefits,whichconstitutesacrime,theyshallbeheldcriminallyresponsibleinaccordancewiththelaw;Ifitdoesnotconstituteacrime,administrativesanctionsshallbeimposedinaccordancewiththelaw.Chapter8SupplementaryProvisionsArticle63:Thosewhoapplyfortrademarkregistrationandhandleothertrademarkmattersshallpayfees,andthespecificfeestandardsshallbedeterminedseparately.Article64:ThisLawshallcomeintoeffectonMarch1,1983.TheTrademarkManagementRegulationspromulgatedbytheStateCouncilonApril10,1963weresimultaneouslyabolished;Anyotherregulationsrelatedtotrademarkmanagementthatconflictwiththislawshallalsobecomeinvalid.Trademarksregisteredbeforetheimplementationofthislawshallremainvalid.
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Implementation Regulations of the Trademark Law of the People's Republic of China Order of the State Council of the People's Republic of China (No. 358)
Chapter1GeneralProvisionsArticle1:ThisregulationisformulatedinaccordancewiththeTrademarkLawofthePeople'sRepublicofChina(hereinafterreferredtoastheTrademarkLaw).Article2:TheprovisionsofthisRegulationregardingcommoditytrademarksshallapplytoservicetrademarks.Article3:TheuseoftrademarksreferredtointheTrademarkLawandtheseRegulationsincludestheuseoftrademarksongoods,packagingorcontainersofgoods,andcommercialdocuments,ortheuseoftrademarksinadvertising,exhibitions,andothercommercialactivities.Article4:ThegoodsthatmustusearegisteredtrademarkasstipulatedbythestateinArticle6oftheTrademarkLawrefertothegoodsthatmustusearegisteredtrademarkasstipulatedbylawsandadministrativeregulations.Article5:InaccordancewiththeprovisionsoftheTrademarkLawandtheseRegulations,ifadisputearisesduringtheprocessoftrademarkregistrationortrademarkreview,andtherelevantpartiesbelievethattheirtrademarkconstitutesawell-knowntrademark,theymayapplytotheTrademarkOfficeortheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardforrecognitionofthewell-knowntrademark,rejectthetrademarkregistrationapplicationthatviolatesArticle13oftheTrademarkLaw,orrevokethetrademarkregistrationthatviolatesArticle13oftheTrademarkLaw.Whenthepartiesconcernedsubmitanapplication,theyshallprovideevidencethattheirtrademarkconstitutesawell-knowntrademark.TheTrademarkOfficeandtheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardshall,upontherequestofthepartiesconcernedandbasedontheinvestigationoffacts,determinewhethertheirtrademarkconstitutesawell-knowntrademarkinaccordancewithArticle14oftheTrademarkLaw.Article6:ThegeographicalindicationsspecifiedinArticle16oftheTrademarkLawmaybeappliedforregistrationasprooftrademarksorcollectivetrademarksinaccordancewiththeprovisionsoftheTrademarkLawandtheseRegulations.Ifageographicalindicationisusedasaprooftrademarkforregistration,naturalpersons,legalpersonsorotherorganizationswhosegoodsmeettheconditionsforusingthegeographicalindicationmayrequesttheuseoftheprooftrademark,andtheorganizationcontrollingtheprooftrademarkshallallowit.Naturalpersons,legalpersons,orotherorganizationswhosegoodsmeettheconditionsforusingageographicalindicationregisteredasacollectivetrademarkmayrequesttoparticipateinagroup,association,orotherorganizationregisteredasacollectivetrademarkusingthegeographicalindication.Thegroup,association,orotherorganizationshallacceptitasamemberinaccordancewithitsarticlesofassociation;Ifitisnotrequiredtoparticipateinagroup,associationorotherorganizationthatregistersthegeographicalindicationasacollectivetrademark,thegeographicalindicationcanstillbeusedlegitimately,andthegroup,associationorotherorganizationhasnorighttoprohibitit.Article7:Whenapartyentrustsatrademarkagencytoapplyfortrademarkregistrationorhandleothertrademarkmatters,itshallsubmitapowerofattorney.Thepowerofattorneyshallspecifythecontentandauthorityoftheagency;Thepowerofattorneyforforeignersorforeignenterprisesshouldalsospecifythenationalityoftheprincipal.Thenotarizationandauthenticationproceduresforthepowerofattorneyandrelatedsupportingdocumentsofforeignersorforeignenterprisesshallbehandledinaccordancewiththeprincipleofreciprocity.Theterm"foreigner"or"foreignenterprise"referredtoinArticle18oftheTrademarkLawreferstoaforeignerorforeignenterprisewhodoesnothaveahabitualresidenceorplaceofbusinessinChina.Article8:Whenapplyingfortrademarkregistrationorhandlingothertrademarkmatters,Chineseshallbeused.Ifvariouscertificates,supportingdocuments,andevidencematerialssubmittedinaccordancewiththeTrademarkLawandtheseRegulationsareinforeignlanguages,Chinesetranslationsshallbeattached;Ifnotattached,itshallbedeemedthatthecertificate,supportingdocumentsorevidencematerialshavenotbeensubmitted.Article9:IfanystaffmemberoftheTrademarkOfficeortheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardfallsunderanyofthefollowingcircumstances,theyshallrecusethemselves,andthepartiesorinterestedpartiesmayrequesttheirrecusal:（1）Ifitisapartyoracloserelativeofapartyoragent;（2）Havingotherrelationshipswiththepartiesoragentsthatmayaffectfairness;（3）Thosewhohaveaninterestinapplyingfortrademarkregistrationorhandlingothertrademarkmatters.Article10:ExceptasotherwiseprovidedintheseRegulations,thedateonwhichthepartiessubmitdocumentsormaterialstotheTrademarkOfficeortheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardshallprevailifsubmitteddirectly;Formailing,thedateofthepostmarksentshallprevail;Ifthepostmarkdateisunclearorthereisnopostmark,theactualreceiptdateoftheTrademarkOfficeorTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardshallprevail,exceptwherethepartiescanprovideevidenceoftheactualpostmarkdate.Article11:VariousdocumentsoftheTrademarkOfficeortheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardmaybedeliveredtothepartiesconcernedbymail,directsubmission,orothermeans.Ifthepartiesentrustatrademarkagencyorganization,thedeliveryofdocumentstothetrademarkagencyorganizationshallbedeemedasdeliverytotheparties.ThedateonwhichtheTrademarkOfficeorTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoarddeliversvariousdocumentstothepartiesshallbebasedonthepostmarkdatereceivedbythepartiesifmailed;Ifthepostmarkdateisunclearorthereisnopostmark,thedocumentshallbedeemeddeliveredtothepartyconcernedafter15daysfromthedateofissuance;Fordirectsubmission,thesubmissiondateshallprevail.Ifthedocumentcannotbemailedordirectlysubmitted,itcanbedeliveredtothepartiesthroughpublicannouncement.After30daysfromthedateofannouncement,thedocumentshallbedeemedtohavebeendelivered.Article12:InternationalregistrationoftrademarksshallbehandledinaccordancewiththerelevantinternationaltreatiestowhichChinaisaparty.ThespecificmeasuresshallbeformulatedbytheStateAdministrationforIndustryandCommerce.Chapter2:ApplicationforTrademarkRegistrationArticle13:Whenapplyingfortrademarkregistration,theapplicationshallbefiledaccordingtothepublishedclassificationtableofgoodsandservices.Eachtrademarkregistrationapplicationshallsubmitonecopyofthe"TrademarkRegistrationApplication"andfivecopiesofthetrademarkdesigntotheTrademarkOffice;Specifythecolorandsubmit5coloringdrawingsand1blackandwhitedraft.Thetrademarkdesignmustbeclearandeasytopaste,printedonsmoothanddurablepaperorreplacedwithphotos,andthelengthorwidthshouldnotexceed10centimetersandnotbelessthan5centimeters.Ifapplyingfortrademarkregistrationwithathree-dimensionalsymbol,itshallbedeclaredintheapplicationformandadesignthatcandeterminethethree-dimensionalshapeshallbesubmitted.Ifatrademarkisregisteredbycombiningcolors,itshallbedeclaredintheapplicationformandawrittenexplanationshallbesubmitted.Thosewhoapplyfortheregistrationofcollectivetrademarksorcertificationtrademarksshallmakeadeclarationintheapplicationformandsubmitproofofsubjectqualificationdocumentsandusagemanagementrules.Ifthetrademarkisinaforeignlanguageorcontainsaforeignlanguage,itsmeaningshallbeexplained.Article14:Fortrademarkregistrationapplications,theapplicantshallsubmitcopiesofvalididentificationdocumentsthatcanprovetheiridentity.Thenameofthetrademarkregistrationapplicantshouldbeconsistentwiththedocumentssubmitted.Article15:Thenamesofgoodsorserviceitemsshallbefilledinaccordingtotheclassificationtableofgoodsandservices;Iftheproductnameorserviceitemisnotincludedintheclassificationtableofgoodsandservices,anexplanationoftheproductorserviceshouldbeattached.Therelevantdocumentssuchastrademarkregistrationapplicationshallbetypedorprinted.Article16:Ifjointlyapplyingforregistrationofthesametrademark,arepresentativeshallbedesignatedintheapplicationform;Ifnorepresentativeisdesignated,thefirstpersonintheorderlistedintheapplicationshallbetherepresentative.Article17:Iftheapplicantchangesitsname,address,agent,ordeletesdesignatedgoods,itmayhandlethechangeprocedureswiththeTrademarkOffice.Iftheapplicanttransferstheirtrademarkregistrationapplication,theyshallhandlethetransferprocedureswiththeTrademarkOffice.Article18:TheapplicationdatefortrademarkregistrationshallbebasedonthedateonwhichtheTrademarkOfficereceivestheapplicationdocuments.Iftheapplicationproceduresarecompleteandtheapplicationdocumentsarefilledoutinaccordancewiththeregulations,theTrademarkOfficewillacceptitandnotifytheapplicantinwriting;Iftheapplicationproceduresareincompleteortheapplicationdocumentsarenotfilledoutaccordingtotheregulations,theTrademarkOfficewillnotacceptit,andtheapplicantwillbenotifiedinwritingwithreasonsexplained.Iftheapplicationproceduresarebasicallycompleteortheapplicationdocumentsbasicallycomplywiththeregulations,butneedtobesupplemented,theTrademarkOfficeshallnotifytheapplicanttomakecorrections,andrequirethemtomakecorrectionsaccordingtothespecifiedcontentandreturnthemtotheTrademarkOfficewithin30daysfromthedateofreceivingthenotification.IfthecorrectionismadewithintheprescribedtimelimitandreturnedtotheTrademarkOffice,theapplicationdateshallberetained;Ifnocorrectionismadewithinthetimelimit,theapplicationshallbedeemedabandoned,andtheTrademarkOfficeshallnotifytheapplicantinwriting.Article19:Iftwoormoreapplicantsapplyforregistrationofthesameorsimilartrademarkonthesameorsimilargoodsonthesameday,eachapplicantshallsubmitevidenceoftheirprioruseofthetrademarkwithin30daysfromthedateofreceivingnotificationfromtheTrademarkOffice.Ifusedonthesamedayornotusedatall,eachapplicantmaynegotiateontheirownwithin30daysfromthedateofreceivingnotificationfromtheTrademarkOfficeandsubmitawrittenagreementtotheTrademarkOffice;Ifunwillingtonegotiateorunabletoreachanagreement,theTrademarkOfficeshallnotifyeachapplicanttodetermineoneapplicantbydrawinglotsandrejecttheregistrationapplicationsofothers.IftheTrademarkOfficehasnotifiedtheapplicantbuttheapplicantdidnotparticipateinthedrawing,itshallbedeemedthattheapplicationhasbeenabandoned,andtheTrademarkOfficeshallnotifytheapplicantwhodidnotparticipateinthedrawinginwriting.Article20:IfpriorityisclaimedinaccordancewithArticle24oftheTrademarkLaw,acopyofthefirstapplicationfortrademarkregistrationsubmittedbytheapplicantshallbecertifiedbythetrademarkauthoritythatacceptedtheapplication,andtheapplicationdateandnumbershallbeindicated.IfpriorityisclaimedinaccordancewithArticle25oftheTrademarkLaw,thesupportingdocumentssubmittedbytheapplicantshallbeauthenticatedbytheinstitutiondesignatedbytheStateAdministrationforIndustryandCommerce;InternationalexhibitionsshowcasingitsproductsarenotheldwithinChina.Chapter3ExaminationofTrademarkRegistrationApplicationsArticle21:TheTrademarkOfficeshallexaminethetrademarkregistrationapplicationsacceptedinaccordancewiththerelevantprovisionsoftheTrademarkLawandtheseRegulations.Iftheregistrationapplicationsthatcomplywiththeprovisionsorusethetrademarkonsomedesignatedgoodscomplywiththeprovisions,theyshallbepreliminarilyapprovedandannounced;Forregistrationapplicationsthatdonotcomplywithregulationsorusetrademarksonsomedesignatedgoodsthatdonotcomplywithregulations,theyshallberejectedorrejected.Theapplicantshallbenotifiedinwritingandthereasonsshallbeexplained.IftheTrademarkOfficehaspreliminarilyapprovedaregistrationapplicationfortheuseofatrademarkonsomedesignatedgoods,theapplicantmayapplytoabandontheregistrationapplicationfortheuseofatrademarkonsomedesignatedgoodsbeforetheexpirationoftheobjectionperiod;Iftheapplicantabandonstheregistrationapplicationforusingthetrademarkonsomedesignatedgoods,theTrademarkOfficeshallwithdrawtheoriginalpreliminaryapproval,terminatetheexaminationprocedure,andreannounce.Article22:IfanoppositionisraisedagainstatrademarkthathasbeenpreliminarilyapprovedandpublishedbytheTrademarkOffice,theobjectorshallsubmittwocopiesofthetrademarkoppositionlettertotheTrademarkOffice.ThetrademarkoppositionlettershallspecifytheissuenumberandpreliminaryapprovalnumberoftheopposedtrademarkpublishedintheTrademarkAnnouncement.Thetrademarkoppositionlettershouldhaveclearrequestsandfactualbasis,andbeaccompaniedbyrelevantevidencematerials.TheTrademarkOfficeshallpromptlysendacopyofthetrademarkoppositiontotherespondentandrequirethemtodefendwithin30daysfromthedateofreceivingthecopyofthetrademarkopposition.Iftherespondentdoesnotdefend,itdoesnotaffecttheobjectionrulingoftheTrademarkOffice.Ifthepartiesneedtosupplementrelevantevidencematerialsafterfilinganobjectionapplicationordefense,theyshalldeclareitintheapplicationordefenseandsubmititwithin3monthsfromthedateofsubmissionoftheapplicationordefense;Ifthedeadlineforsubmissionisnotmet,itshallbedeemedthatthepartieshavewaivedtheneedtosupplementrelevantevidencematerials.Article23:TheestablishmentofanobjectionreferredtoinArticle34(2)oftheTrademarkLawincludestheestablishmentonsomedesignatedgoods.Iftheobjectionisestablishedonsomedesignatedgoods,thetrademarkregistrationapplicationonthosedesignatedgoodswillnotbeapproved.Iftheopposedtrademarkhasalreadypublishedaregistrationannouncementbeforetheoppositionrulingtakeseffect,theoriginalregistrationannouncementshallberevoked,andthetrademarkapprovedforregistrationbytheoppositionrulingshallbereannounced.Atrademarkthathasbeenapprovedforregistrationthroughanobjectionrulingshallnothaveretrospectiveeffectontheuseofamarkidenticalorsimilartothetrademarkbyothersonthesameorsimilargoodsfromtheexpirationoftheobjectionperioduntiltheobjectionrulingtakeseffect;However,compensationshouldbegivenforthelossescausedtothetrademarkregistrantduetothemaliciousactionsoftheuser.Thedeadlineforfilinganapplicationforreviewofatrademarkthathasbeenapprovedforregistrationbyanoppositionrulingshallbecalculatedfromthedateoftheannouncementoftheoppositionrulingforthattrademark.Chapter4:Change,Transfer,andRenewalofRegisteredTrademarksArticle24:Ifthename,address,orotherregistrationmattersofthetrademarkregistrantarechanged,anapplicationforchangeshallbesubmittedtotheTrademarkOffice.AfterapprovalbytheTrademarkOffice,correspondingcertificateswillbeissuedtothetrademarkregistrantandannounced;Ifitisnotapproved,theapplicantshallbenotifiedinwritingandthereasonsshallbeexplained.Ifthenameofthetrademarkregistrantischanged,acertificateofchangeissuedbytherelevantregistrationauthorityshallalsobesubmitted.Forthosewhohavenotsubmittedtheproofofchangedocuments,theycansubmitthemwithin30daysfromthedateofapplication;Iftheapplicationforchangeisnotsubmittedwithinthedeadline,itshallbedeemedasabandonment,andtheTrademarkOfficeshallnotifytheapplicantinwriting.Ifthenameoraddressofthetrademarkregistrantischanged,thetrademarkregistrantshallchangeallofitsregisteredtrademarkstogether;Ifthechangesarenotmadetogether,itshallbedeemedthattheapplicationforchangehasbeenabandoned,andtheTrademarkOfficeshallnotifytheapplicantinwriting.Article25:Ifaregisteredtrademarkistransferred,thetransferorandtransfereeshallsubmitanapplicationforthetransferoftheregisteredtrademarktotheTrademarkOffice.Theapplicationproceduresfortransferringaregisteredtrademarkshallbehandledbytheassignee.AftertheTrademarkOfficeapprovesthetransferoftheregisteredtrademarkapplication,itshallissuecorrespondingcertificatestotheassigneeandmakeapublicannouncement.Ifaregisteredtrademarkistransferred,thetrademarkregistrantshalltransferallidenticalorsimilartrademarksregisteredonthesameorsimilargoodstogether;Ifitisnottransferredtogether,theTrademarkOfficeshallnotifyittomakecorrectionswithinaspecifiedperiodoftime;Ifnocorrectionismadeuponexpiration,itshallbedeemedasgivinguptheapplicationforthetransferoftheregisteredtrademark,andtheTrademarkOfficeshallnotifytheapplicantinwriting.TheTrademarkOfficeshallnotapproveapplicationsforthetransferofregisteredtrademarksthatmaycausemisidentification,confusion,orotheradverseeffects,andshallnotifytheapplicantinwritingandexplainthereasons.Article26:Iftheexclusiverighttoaregisteredtrademarkistransferredforreasonsotherthantransfer,thepartyacceptingthetransferoftheexclusiverighttoaregisteredtrademarkshallhandlethetransferproceduresattheTrademarkOfficewithrelevantsupportingdocumentsorlegaldocuments.Iftheexclusiverighttoaregisteredtrademarkistransferred,thesameorsimilartrademarksregisteredbytheexclusiverightholderonthesameorsimilargoodsshallbetransferredtogether;Ifnottransferredtogether,theTrademarkOfficeshallnotifythemtomakecorrectionswithinaspecifiedperiodoftime;Ifnocorrectionismadeuponexpiration,itshallbedeemedasgivinguptheapplicationfortransferringtheregisteredtrademark,andtheTrademarkOfficeshallnotifytheapplicantinwriting.Article27:Ifaregisteredtrademarkneedstoberenewed,anapplicationfortrademarkrenewalregistrationshallbesubmittedtotheTrademarkOffice.AftertheTrademarkOfficeapprovestheapplicationfortrademarkregistrationrenewal,itshallissuecorrespondingcertificatesandmakepublicannouncements.Thevalidityperiodoftherenewedregisteredtrademarkshallbecalculatedfromthedayaftertheexpirationofthepreviousvalidityperiodofthetrademark.Chapter5TrademarkReviewandAdjudicationArticle28:TheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardshallaccepttrademarkreviewapplicationssubmittedinaccordancewithArticles32,33,41,and49oftheTrademarkLaw.TheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardconductsreviewsbasedonfactsandinaccordancewiththelaw.Article29:Theterm"disputeoveraregisteredtrademark"referredtointhethirdparagraphofArticle41oftheTrademarkLawmeansthatthetrademarkregistrantwhoappliedforregistrationfirstbelievesthatatrademarkappliedforregistrationlaterbyanotherpersonisthesameorsimilartoaregisteredtrademarkonthesameorsimilargoods.Article30:Whenapplyingfortrademarkreview,anapplicationshallbesubmittedtotheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoard,andcorrespondingcopiesshallbesubmittedaccordingtothenumberofopposingparties;ForapplicationsforreexaminationbasedonthedecisionorrulingoftheTrademarkOffice,acopyofthedecisionorrulingoftheTrademarkOfficeshallalsobeattached.Afterreceivingtheapplication,theTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardshallacceptitifitmeetstheacceptancecriteriaafterexamination;Thosethatdonotmeettheacceptancecriteriawillnotbeaccepted,andtheapplicantwillbenotifiedinwritingwithreasonsexplained;Ifcorrectionsarerequired,theapplicantshallbenotifiedtomakecorrectionswithin30daysfromthedateofreceiptofthenotification.Ifitstilldoesnotmeettherequirementsaftercorrection,theTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardshallnotacceptit,andshallnotifytheapplicantinwritingandexplainthereasons;Ifnocorrectionismadewithinthetimelimit,theapplicationshallbedeemedwithdrawn,andtheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardshallnotifytheapplicantinwriting.IftheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardfindsthatatrademarkreviewapplicationdoesnotmeettheacceptancecriteriaafteracceptingit,itshallrejectit,notifytheapplicantinwriting,andexplainthereasons.Article31:Afteracceptingatrademarkreviewapplication,theTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardshallpromptlysendacopyoftheapplicationtotheopposingpartyandrequirethemtodefendwithin30daysfromthedateofreceivingthecopyoftheapplication;Ifthereisnodefensewithinthedeadline,itdoesnotaffectthereviewoftheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoard.Article32:Ifapartyneedstosupplementrelevantevidencematerialsaftersubmittinganapplicationforreviewordefense,itshalldeclareintheapplicationordefenseandsubmititwithin3monthsfromthedateofsubmissionoftheapplicationordefense;Thosewhofailtosubmitwithinthedeadlineshallbedeemedtohavewaivedtheneedtosupplementrelevantevidencematerials.Article33:TheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardmaydecidetoconductapublicreviewofanapplicationforreviewbasedontherequestoractualneedsofthepartiesinvolved.IftheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoarddecidestoconductapublicreviewofthereviewapplication,itshallnotifythepartiesinwriting15daysbeforethepublicreview,informingthemofthedate,location,andreviewersofthepublicreview.Thepartiesshallrespondwithinthetimelimitspecifiedinthenotice.Iftheapplicantdoesnotrespondorparticipateinthepublicreview,theirreviewapplicationshallbedeemedwithdrawn,andtheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardshallnotifytheapplicantinwriting;Iftherespondentdoesnotrespondorparticipateinthepublicreview,theTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardmaybeabsentfromthereview.Article34:IftheapplicantrequeststowithdrawtheapplicationbeforetheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardmakesadecisionorruling,theymaydosobyexplainingthereasonsinwritingtotheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoard;Iftheapplicationiswithdrawn,theevaluationprocessshallbeterminated.Article35:Iftheapplicantwithdrawsthetrademarkreviewapplication,theyshallnotsubmitanotherreviewapplicationbasedonthesamefactsandreasons;IftheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardhasalreadymadearulingordecisiononatrademarkreviewapplication,noonemaysubmitanotherreviewapplicationbasedonthesamefactsandreasons.Article36:IfaregisteredtrademarkisrevokedinaccordancewithArticle41oftheTrademarkLaw,itsexclusiverighttousethetrademarkshallbedeemedtohaveceasedtoexistfromtheverybeginning.Thedecisionorrulingontherevocationofaregisteredtrademark,thejudgmentorrulingofthepeople'scourtontrademarkinfringementcasesthathavebeenexecutedbeforetherevocation,thehandlingdecisionoftrademarkinfringementcasesthathavebeenexecutedbytheadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommerce,andthetrademarktransferoruselicensecontractthathasbeenfulfilled,donothaveretroactiveeffect;However,compensationshouldbegivenforthelossescausedbythetrademarkregistrant'smaliciousactstowardsothers.Chapter6ManagementofTrademarkUseArticle37:Whenusingaregisteredtrademark,the"registeredtrademark"orregistrationmarkmaybeindicatedonthegoods,packaging,instructions,orotherattachments.Theregistrationmarksinclude(noteplus○)and(Rplus○).Theregistrationmarkshouldbemarkedintheupperrightcornerorlowerrightcornerofthetrademark.Article38:IftheTrademarkRegistrationCertificateislostordamaged,anapplicationforreissuanceshallbemadetotheTrademarkOffice.IftheTrademarkRegistrationCertificateislost,astatementoflossshallbepublishedintheTrademarkAnnouncement.ThedamagedTrademarkRegistrationCertificateshouldbereturnedtotheTrademarkOfficewhensubmittingareplacementapplication.ThosewhoforgeoraltertheTrademarkRegistrationCertificateshallbeheldcriminallyresponsibleinaccordancewiththeprovisionsoftheCriminalLawonthecrimeofforgingoralteringstateorgancertificatesorothercrimes.Article39:IfanyoftheactsspecifiedinArticle44(1),(2),or(3)oftheTrademarkLawarecommitted,theadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommerceshallorderthetrademarkregistranttomakecorrectionswithinaspecifiedperiodoftime;ThosewhorefusetomakecorrectionsshallapplytotheTrademarkOfficeforrevocationoftheirregisteredtrademark.AnyonewhoengagesintheactspecifiedinArticle44(4)oftheTrademarkLawmayapplytotheTrademarkOfficefortherevocationoftheregisteredtrademarkandproviderelevantinformation.TheTrademarkOfficeshallnotifythetrademarkregistrantandrequirethemtosubmitevidencematerialsorexplainthelegitimatereasonsfornotusingthetrademarkbeforetherevocationapplicationisfiledwithin2monthsfromthedateofreceiptofthenotification;Iftheevidencematerialsforusearenotprovideduponexpirationortheevidencematerialsareinvalidwithoutjustifiablereasons,theTrademarkOfficeshallrevoketheregisteredtrademark.Theevidencematerialsreferredtointheprecedingparagraphincludetheevidencematerialsofthetrademarkregistrant'suseoftheregisteredtrademarkandtheevidencematerialsofthetrademarkregistrant'spermissionforotherstousetheregisteredtrademark.Article40:RegisteredtrademarksthathavebeenrevokedinaccordancewithArticles44and45oftheTrademarkLawshallbeannouncedbytheTrademarkOffice;TheexclusiverighttousetheregisteredtrademarkshallterminatefromthedateoftherevocationdecisionmadebytheTrademarkOffice.Article41:IftheTrademarkOfficeortheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardrevokesaregisteredtrademarkandthereasonsforrevocationonlyapplytoaportionofthedesignatedgoods,thetrademarkregistrationusedonthatportionofthedesignatedgoodsshallberevoked.Article42:TheamountoffinesimposedinaccordancewithArticles45and48oftheTrademarkLawshallbenomorethan20%oftheillegalbusinessrevenueornomorethantwicetheillegalprofits.TheamountoffinesimposedinaccordancewithArticle47oftheTrademarkLawshallnotexceed10%oftheillegalbusinessrevenue.Article43:Ifthelicensorpermitsotherstousetheirregisteredtrademark,theyshallsubmitacopyofthetrademarklicensecontracttotheTrademarkOfficeforfilingwithinthreemonthsfromthedateofsigningthecontract.Article44:ThosewhoviolatetheprovisionsofArticle40(2)oftheTrademarkLawshallbeorderedbytheadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommercetomakecorrectionswithinaspecifiedperiodoftime;Ifthecorrectionisnotmadewithintheprescribedtime,thetrademarkidentificationshallbeconfiscated;Ifitisdifficulttoseparatethetrademarklogofromthegoods,theyshallbeconfiscatedanddestroyedtogether.Article45:IftheuseofatrademarkviolatestheprovisionsofArticle13oftheTrademarkLaw,therelevantpartiesmayrequesttheadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommercetoprohibititsuse.Whenthepartiessubmitanapplication,theyshallprovideevidencethattheirtrademarkconstitutesawell-knowntrademark.Ifatrademarkisrecognizedasawell-knowntrademarkbytheTrademarkOfficeinaccordancewithArticle14oftheTrademarkLaw,theadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommerceshallordertheinfringertostopusingthewell-knowntrademarkinviolationofArticle13oftheTrademarkLaw,confiscateordestroyitstrademarklogo;Ifitisdifficulttoseparatethetrademarklogofromthegoods,theyshallbeconfiscatedanddestroyedtogether.Article46:Ifatrademarkregistrantappliestocancelitsregisteredtrademarkorcancelitstrademarkregistrationoncertaindesignatedgoods,itshallsubmitatrademarkcancellationapplicationtotheTrademarkOfficeandreturntheoriginalTrademarkRegistrationCertificate.Ifatrademarkregistrantappliesforthecancellationoftheirregisteredtrademarkorthecancellationoftheirtrademarkregistrationoncertaindesignatedgoods,theexclusiverighttousetheregisteredtrademarkortheeffectivenessoftheexclusiverighttousetheregisteredtrademarkonsuchdesignatedgoodsshallterminatefromthedateofreceiptofthecancellationapplicationbytheTrademarkOffice.Article47:Ifthetrademarkregistrantdiesorterminates,andthetransferproceduresfortheregisteredtrademarkhavenotbeencompletedwithinoneyearfromthedateofdeathortermination,anyonemayapplytotheTrademarkOfficeforcancellationoftheregisteredtrademark.Ifanapplicationforcancellationissubmitted,evidenceofthedeathorterminationofthetrademarkregistrantshallbesubmitted.Ifaregisteredtrademarkiscancelledduetothedeathorterminationofthetrademarkregistrant,theexclusiverighttousetheregisteredtrademarkshallterminatefromthedateofthedeathorterminationofthetrademarkregistrant.Article48:IfaregisteredtrademarkisrevokedorcancelledinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofArticles46and47oftheseRegulations,theoriginalTrademarkRegistrationCertificateshallbeinvalidated;Iftheregistrationofthetrademarkisrevokedonsomedesignatedgoods,orifthetrademarkregistrantappliestocanceltheregistrationofitstrademarkonsomedesignatedgoods,theTrademarkOfficeshallannotateandreturntheoriginalTrademarkRegistrationCertificate,orreissuetheTrademarkRegistrationCertificateandmakeitpublic.Chapter7ProtectionofExclusiveRightstoRegisteredTrademarksArticle49:Ifaregisteredtrademarkcontainsthegenericname,graphics,model,ordirectlyindicatesthequality,mainrawmaterials,function,purpose,weight,quantity,andothercharacteristicsofthegoods,orcontainsaplacename,theexclusiverightholderoftheregisteredtrademarkhasnorighttoprohibitothersfromusingitlegitimately.Article50:AnyofthefollowingactsshallbedeemedasaninfringementoftheexclusiverighttousearegisteredtrademarkunderArticle52(5)oftheTrademarkLaw:（1）Usingamarkthatisidenticalorsimilartoanotherperson'sregisteredtrademarkasaproductnameordecorationonthesameorsimilargoods,misleadingthepublic;（2）Intentionallyprovidingconvenientconditionssuchaswarehousing,transportation,mailing,andconcealmentforinfringingontheexclusiverighttousearegisteredtrademarkofothers.Article51:Anyonemayfileacomplaintorreporttotheadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommerceregardingtheinfringementoftheexclusiverighttousearegisteredtrademark.Article52:Foractsthatinfringeupontheexclusiverighttousearegisteredtrademark,afineofnomorethanthreetimestheamountofillegalbusinessoperationsshallbeimposed;Iftheillegalbusinessamountcannotbecalculated,thefineamountshallbenomorethan100000yuan.Article53:Ifthetrademarkownerbelievesthatsomeoneelse'sregistrationoftheirwell-knowntrademarkasanenterprisenamemaydeceiveorcausemisunderstandingstothepublic,theymayapplytothecompetentauthorityforenterprisenameregistrationtorevoketheregistrationoftheenterprisename.Thecompetentauthorityforenterprisenameregistrationshallhandleitinaccordancewiththe"RegulationsontheAdministrationofEnterpriseNameRegistration".Chapter8SupplementaryProvisionsArticle54:ServicetrademarksthathavebeencontinuouslyuseduntilJuly1,1993,andareidenticalorsimilartoservicetrademarksalreadyregisteredbyothersforthesameorsimilarservices,maycontinuetobeused;However,iftheuseisinterruptedformorethan3yearsafterJuly1,1993,itshallnotbecontinued.Article55:ThespecificmanagementmeasuresfortrademarkagencyshallbeseparatelyformulatedbytheStateCouncil.Article56:TheclassificationtableofgoodsandservicesusedfortrademarkregistrationshallbeformulatedandpublishedbytheStateAdministrationforIndustryandCommerce.ThedocumentformatforapplyingfortrademarkregistrationorhandlingothertrademarkmattersshallbeformulatedandpublishedbytheStateAdministrationforIndustryandCommerce.ThereviewrulesoftheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardareformulatedandpublishedbytheStateAdministrationforIndustryandCommerce.Article57:TheTrademarkOfficeshallestablisha"TrademarkRegistrationBook"torecordregisteredtrademarksandrelatedregistrationmatters.TheTrademarkOfficecompilesandpublishesthe"TrademarkAnnouncement",whichpublishestrademarkregistrationandotherrelatedmatters.Article58:Whenapplyingfortrademarkregistrationorhandlingothertrademarkmatters,feesshallbepaid.TheitemsandstandardsforpayingfeesshallbeformulatedandannouncedbytheStateAdministrationforIndustryandCommerceinconjunctionwiththeStateAdministrationforPrice.Article59:ThisregulationshallcomeintoeffectonSeptember15,2002.TheImplementationRulesoftheTrademarkLawofthePeople'sRepublicofChina,issuedbytheStateCouncilonMarch10,1983,approvedforthefirstrevisiononJanuary3,1988,andapprovedforthesecondrevisiononJuly15,1993,aswellastheReplyoftheStateCouncilontheIssueofAccompanyingDocumentsforTrademarkRegistrationonApril23,1995,weresimultaneouslyabolished.
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Opinions of the Supreme People's Court on Several Issues Concerning the Trial of Administrative Cases of Trademark Authorization and Confirmation, Fa Fa [2010] No. 12
TheHighPeople'sCourtsofallprovinces,autonomousregions,andmunicipalitiesdirectlyundertheCentralGovernment,theMilitaryCourtofthePeople'sLiberationArmy,andtheProductionandConstructionCorpsBranchoftheXinjiangUygurAutonomousRegionHighPeople'sCourt:Weherebyissuetoyouthe"OpinionsoftheSupremePeople'sCourtonSeveralIssuesConcerningtheTrialofAdministrativeCasesofTrademarkAuthorizationandConfirmation",andrequestthatyouconscientiouslyimplementit.April20th,2010SincetheimplementationoftheDecisionoftheStandingCommitteeoftheNationalPeople'sCongressonAmendingtheTrademarkLawofthePeople'sRepublicofChinaonDecember1,2001,thepeople'scourtshavebeguntoacceptandhearadministrativecasesoftrademarkauthorizationandconfirmationofspecificadministrativeactionssuchastrademarkrejectionreview,trademarkoppositionreview,trademarkdispute,andtrademarkrevocationreviewfiledbyinterestedpartiesagainsttheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardoftheStateAdministrationforIndustryandCommerceinaccordancewiththelaw.Theyhaveactivelyexploredrelevantlegalapplicationissuesandaccumulatedrichtrialexperience.Inordertobetterhandleadministrativecasesoftrademarkauthorizationandcertification,furthersummarizetrialexperience,clarifyandunifytrialstandards,theSupremePeople'sCourthasheldmultiplespecialmeetingsandconductedspecialresearch,extensivelylisteningtotheopinionsofrelevantcourts,departments,expertsandscholars,andstudyingandsummarizingthelegalapplicationissuesinthetrialofadministrativecasesoftrademarkauthorizationandcertification.Onthisbasis,inaccordancewiththeprovisionsoftheTrademarkLawofthePeople'sRepublicofChina,theAdministrativeLitigationLawofthePeople'sRepublicofChina,andotherlaws,combinedwiththeactualtrial,thefollowingopinionsareproposedforthetrialofsuchcases:1.Whenadjudicatingadministrativecasesoftrademarkauthorizationandcertification,thepeople'scourtmaystrictlycontrolthestandardsfortrademarkauthorizationandcertificationinaccordancewiththelaw,fullyconsidertheinterestsofconsumersandindustryoperators,effectivelycurbimproperregistrationbehavior,andpayattentiontotheprotectionoftherightsandinterestsofpriortrademarks,enterprisenames,andothercommercialsignswithhighpopularityandstrongdistinctivenessofothers,inordertoeliminatethepossibilityofconfusionofcommercialsignsasmuchaspossible;Fordisputedtrademarksthathavebeeninuseforalongtime,haveestablishedahighmarketreputation,andhaveformedrelevantpublicgroups,itisnecessarytoaccuratelygraspthelegislativespiritoftheTrademarkLawonthecoordinationbetweenprotectingtherightsandinterestsofpriorcommercialsignsandmaintainingmarketorder,fullyrespectthemarketrealitythattherelevantpublichasobjectivelydistinguishedtherelevantcommercialsigns,andpayattentiontomaintainingtheestablishedandstablemarketorder.2.Inpractice,somesymbolsortheirconstituentelementsmayhaveexaggeratedelements,butbasedondailylifeexperienceorthecommonunderstandingoftherelevantpublic,theyarenotenoughtocausemisunderstandings.Forthissituation,thepeople'scourtshouldnotconsideritasexaggeratedpropagandawithdeceptivesigns.3.Whenthepeople'scourtreviewsandjudgeswhethertherelevantsymbolconstitutesasituationwithotheradverseeffects,itshouldconsiderwhetherthesymboloritsconstituentelementsmayhaveanegativeoradverseimpactonChina'spolitical,economic,cultural,religious,ethnicandothersocialpublicinterestsandpublicorder.Iftheregistrationofatrademarkonlydamagesspecificcivilrightsandinterests,astheTrademarkLawhasalreadyprovidedforremediesandcorrespondingprocedures,itisnotappropriatetoconsideritashavingotheradverseeffects.4.AccordingtotheprovisionsoftheTrademarkLaw,placenamesinadministrativedivisionsatorabovethecountylevelorforeignplacenamesknowntothepublicgenerallycannotberegisteredandusedastrademarks.Inpractice,sometrademarksconsistofplacenamesandotherelements.Inthiscase,ifthetrademarkhassignificantcharacteristicsasawholeduetotheadditionofotherelements,andnolongerhasthemeaningofplacenamesordoesnothaveplacenamesasthemainmeaning,itshouldnotberecognizedasanunregisteredtrademarkbecauseitcontainsplacenamesofadministrativedivisionsatorabovethecountylevelorforeignplacenamesknowntothepublic.5.Whenthepeople'scourthearsadministrativecasesoftrademarkauthorizationandconfirmation,itshouldexamineandjudgewhetherthetrademarkhassignificantfeaturesasawholebasedonthecommonunderstandingoftherelevantpublicwhousethegoodsdesignatedbythedisputedtrademark.Ifthedescriptiveelementscontainedinthelogodonotaffectthesignificantcharacteristicsofthetrademarkasawhole,orifthedescriptivelogoisexpressedinauniquewayandtherelevantpubliccanidentifythesourceofthegoodsthroughit,itshouldberecognizedashavingsignificantcharacteristics.6.Whenadjudicatingadministrativecasesoftrademarkauthorizationandconfirmation,thepeople'scourtshallexamineandjudgewhetherthedisputedforeigntrademarkhassignificantcharacteristicsbasedonthecommonunderstandingoftherelevantpublicinChina.Althoughtheforeignlanguageinthedisputedsymbolhasinherentmeanings,iftherelevantpubliccanidentifythesourceofthegoodswiththissymbol,itdoesnotaffecttherecognitionofitssignificantfeatures.7.Whendeterminingwhetheradisputedtrademarkisagenericname,thepeople'scourtshallexaminewhetheritbelongstoalegalorcustomarytradename.Accordingtolegalprovisionsornationalorindustrystandards,ifitbelongstothecommonnameofacommodity,itshouldberecognizedasacommonname.Iftherelevantpublicgenerallybelievesthatanamecanrefertoaclassofgoods,itshouldberecognizedasacommonlyusednamebyconvention.Iflistedasaproductnameinprofessionalreferencebooksordictionaries,itcanserveasareferenceforidentifyingcommonlyusednames.Thecommonlyusednamesaregenerallyjudgedbasedonthecommonunderstandingoftherelevantpublicnationwide.Forproductsthathavearelativelyfixedmarketduetohistoricaltraditions,localcustoms,geographicalenvironment,andotherreasons,thecommonlyusednamesintherelevantmarketcanberecognizedasgenericnames.Iftheapplicantknowsorshouldknowthatthetrademarktheyareapplyingforregistrationisacommonlyacceptedcommoditynamewithinacertainregion,theyshallconsiderthetrademarktheyareapplyingforregistrationasagenericname.8.Thepeople'scourtgenerallyjudgeswhetherthedisputedtrademarkbelongstoagenericnamebasedonthefactualstatusatthetimeoffilingthetrademarkregistrationapplication.Ifthedisputedtrademarkdoesnotbelongtothecommonnameatthetimeofapplication,buthasalreadybecomeacommonnameatthetimeofregistrationapproval,itshouldstillberecognizedasthecommonnameoftheproduct;Althoughitbelongstothegenericnameofthisproductatthetimeofapplication,ifitisnolongeragenericnameatthetimeofregistrationapproval,itdoesnotpreventitfromobtainingregistration.9.Ifacertainsymbolonlyormainlydescribesorindicatesthequality,mainrawmaterials,function,purpose,weight,quantity,placeoforigin,andothercharacteristicsofthegoodsused,itshouldbedeemedthatitdoesnothavesignificantfeatures.Ifthelogooritsconstituentelementsimplythecharacteristicsoftheproduct,butdonotaffectitsabilitytoidentifythesourceoftheproduct,itdoesnotfallintotheabovesituation.10.Thepeople'scourtmayrefertorelevantprovisionssuchasArticle5,Article9,andArticle10oftheInterpretationoftheSupremePeople'sCourtonSeveralIssuesConcerningtheApplicationofLawintheTrialofCivilDisputeCasesInvolvingtheProtectionofWellknownTrademarkswhenadjudicatingadministrativecasesinvolvingtrademarkauthorizationandconfirmationrelatedtotheprotectionofwell-knowntrademarks.11.Forwell-knowntrademarksalreadyregisteredinChina,whendeterminingtheirprotectionscopeondissimilargoods,attentionshouldbepaidtoadaptingtotheirleveloffame.Forwell-knowntrademarksthatarewidelyknowntothepublicandhavealreadybeenregisteredinChina,whendeterminingtheirprotectionscopeondissimilargoods,awiderrangeofprotectionshouldbegiventhatiscommensuratewiththeirleveloffame.12.Ifanagentorrepresentativeinthesenseofasalesagencyrelationship,suchasatrademarkagent,representative,ordistributor,registersthetrademarkoftheprincipalorrepresentativeintheirownnamewithoutauthorization,thepeople'scourtshalldeterminethatitisanactoftheagentorrepresentativeregisteringthetrademarkoftheprincipalorrepresentative.Injudicialpractice,someactsofpreemptiveregistrationoccurduringthestagewhentheagencyrepresentativerelationshipisstillundernegotiation,thatis,preemptiveregistrationoccursfirstandtheagencyrepresentativerelationshipisformedlater.Atthistime,itshouldberegardedasthepreemptiveregistrationbehavioroftheagentorrepresentative.Trademarkregistrationapplicantswhocolludewiththeaforementionedagentsorrepresentativestoengageinunauthorizedregistrationactivitiesmaybeconsideredasagentsorrepresentatives.Forcollusiveregistrationbehavior,itcanbeinferredbasedonthespecificidentityrelationshipbetweenthetrademarkregistrationapplicantandtheaforementionedagentorrepresentative,dependingonthesituation.13.Thetrademarkmarksthatagentsorrepresentativesarenotallowedtoapplyforregistrationincludenotonlymarksthatareidenticaltothoseoftheprincipalorrepresentative,butalsomarksthataresimilar;Thegoodsthatcannotbeappliedforregistrationincludebothgoodsthatarethesameasthoseusedbytheprincipalorrepresentative'strademark,aswellassimilargoods.14.Thepeople'scourtmayrefertotherelevantprovisionsofthe"InterpretationoftheSupremePeople'sCourtonSeveralIssuesConcerningtheApplicationofLawintheTrialofTrademarkCivilDisputeCases"whendeterminingthesimilarityofgoodsandtrademarksinthetrialoftrademarkauthorizationandconfirmationadministrativecases.15.Whenthepeople'scourtreviewsandjudgeswhethertherelevantgoodsorservicesaresimilar,itshouldconsiderwhetherthefunctions,uses,productiondepartments,saleschannels,consumergroups,etc.ofthegoodsarethesameorhaveasignificantcorrelation;Whetherthepurpose,content,method,andtargetaudienceoftheservicearethesameorhaveasignificantcorrelation;Whetherthereisasignificantcorrelationbetweengoodsandservices,whetheritiseasyfortherelevantpublictobelievethatthegoodsorservicesareprovidedbythesameentity,orwhetherthereisaspecificconnectionbetweentheirproviders.TheInternationalClassificationofGoodsandServicesforTrademarkRegistrationandtheClassificationofSimilarGoodsandServicescanserveasreferencesfordeterminingsimilargoodsorservices.16.Whendeterminingwhetheratrademarkissimilar,thepeople'scourtshouldnotonlyconsidertheconstituentelementsofthetrademarklogoandthedegreeofsimilarityasawhole,butalsotakeintoaccountfactorssuchasthedistinctivenessandpopularityoftherelevanttrademark,thedegreeofassociationbetweenthegoodsused,etc.,andusewhetheritiseasytocauseconfusionasthejudgmentstandard.17.TocorrectlyunderstandandapplythegeneralprovisionofArticle31oftheTrademarkLawregarding"theapplicationfortrademarkregistrationshallnotinfringeupontheexistingpriorrightsofothers".Whenthepeople'scourtreviewsandjudgeswhetherthedisputedtrademarkdamagestheexistingpriorrightsofothers,itshallprotectthepriorrightsthathavespecialprovisionsintheTrademarkLawinaccordancewiththespecialprovisionsoftheTrademarkLaw;AlthoughtherearenospecificprovisionsintheTrademarkLaw,ifitbelongstothelegitimaterightsandintereststhatshouldbeprotectedaccordingtotheGeneralPrinciplesofCivilLawandotherlaws,itshouldbeprotectedaccordingtothegeneralprovisions.Thepeople'scourtreviewsandjudgeswhetherthedisputedtrademarkdamagestheexistingpriorrightsofothers,generallybasedonthedateofthedisputedtrademarkapplication.Ifthepriorrightnolongerexistswhenthedisputedtrademarkisapprovedforregistration,itdoesnotaffecttheregistrationofthedisputedtrademark.18.AccordingtotheprovisionsoftheTrademarkLaw,applicantsarenotallowedtoregistertrademarksthathavealreadybeenusedbyothersandhaveacertainimpactthroughimpropermeans.Iftheapplicantknowinglyorshouldhaveknownthatsomeoneelsehasalreadyusedandhasacertainimpactonthetrademark,itcanbedeterminedthattheyhaveusedunfairmeans.TrademarksthatareactuallyusedwithinChinaandareknowntoacertainrangeofrelevantpublicshouldberecognizedastrademarksthathavealreadybeenusedandhaveacertainimpact.Ifthereisevidencetoprovethatthepriortrademarkhasacertaindurationofuse,region,salesvolume,oradvertisingpromotion,itcanbedeterminedthatithasacertainimpact.Fortrademarksthathavealreadybeenusedandhaveacertainimpact,itisnotappropriatetoprovideprotectionondissimilargoods.19.Whenadjudicatingadministrativecasesinvolvingtherevocationofregisteredtrademarks,thepeople'scourtshallexamineandjudgewhetherthedisputedtrademarkwasobtainedthroughotherimpropermeans,andconsiderwhetheritisameansotherthandeceptionthatdisruptstheorderoftrademarkregistration,damagespublicinterests,improperlyoccupiespublicresources,orseeksimproperbenefitsinotherways.Forsituationsthatonlyharmspecificcivilrightsandinterests,Article41(2)and(3)oftheTrademarkLawandothercorrespondingprovisionsoftheTrademarkLawshallbeappliedforexaminationandjudgment.20.Whenthepeople'scourthearsadministrativecasesinvolvingtherevocationofaregisteredtrademarkthathasbeensuspendedfromuseforthreeconsecutiveyears,itshallcorrectlydeterminewhethertheactinquestionconstitutesactualuseinaccordancewiththelegislativespiritoftherelevantprovisionsoftheTrademarkLaw.Thetrademarkowner'sownuse,permissionforotherstouse,andotherusesthatdonotviolatethetrademarkowner'swillcanallbeconsideredasactualuse.Ifthereareslightdifferencesbetweentheactuallyusedtrademarkandtheapprovedregisteredtrademark,buttheirdistinctivefeaturesremainunchanged,itcanbeconsideredastheuseofaregisteredtrademark.Ifthereisnoactualuseofaregisteredtrademark,onlyatransferorlicensingact,oronlythepublicationoftrademarkregistrationinformationoradeclarationofexclusiverightstotheregisteredtrademark,itshouldnotberecognizedastrademarkuse.Ifthetrademarkownerisunabletoactuallyusetheregisteredtrademarkorstopsusingitduetoobjectivereasonssuchasforcemajeure,policyrestrictions,bankruptcyliquidation,etc.,orifthetrademarkownerhastheintentiontoactuallyusethetrademarkandhasnecessarypreparationsforactualuse,buthasnotactuallyusedtheregisteredtrademarkduetootherobjectivereasons,itcanberecognizedashavinglegitimatereasons.
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Interpretation of the Supreme People's Court on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Civil Disputes Involving the Protection of Well known Trademarks (Passed at the 1467th Meeting of the Judicial Committee of the Supreme P
TheInterpretationoftheSupremePeople'sCourtonSeveralIssuesConcerningtheApplicationofLawintheTrialofCivilDisputesInvolvingtheProtectionofWellknownTrademarkswasadoptedatthe1467thmeetingoftheJudicialCommitteeoftheSupremePeople'sCourtonApril22,2009.ItisnowpublishedandshallcomeintoeffectonMay1,2009.April23,2009Inordertoprotectwell-knowntrademarksinaccordancewiththelawinthetrialofcivildisputessuchastrademarkinfringement,thisinterpretationisformulatedbasedonrelevantlawsandregulationssuchastheTrademarkLawofthePeople'sRepublicofChina,theAntiUnfairCompetitionLawofthePeople'sRepublicofChina,andtheCivilProcedureLawofthePeople'sRepublicofChina,combinedwiththeactualtrialsituation.Article1:Thewell-knowntrademarkreferredtointhisinterpretationreferstoatrademarkthatiswidelyknowntotherelevantpublicwithinChina.Article2:Inthefollowingcivildisputecases,ifthepartiesusethewell-knowntrademarkasafactualbasisandthepeople'scourtdeemsitnecessarybasedonthespecificcircumstancesofthecase,itshallmakeadeterminationonwhetherthetrademarkinquestioniswell-known:（1）LawsuitsfortrademarkinfringementfiledonthegroundsofviolatingArticle13oftheTrademarkLaw;（2）Lawsuitsfortrademarkinfringementorunfaircompetitionfiledonthegroundsthattheenterprisenameisidenticalorsimilartoitswell-knowntrademark;（3）LawsuitsthatcomplywiththeprovisionsofArticle6ofthisInterpretationregardingdefensesorcounterclaims.Article3:Inthefollowingcivildisputecases,thepeople'scourtshallnotexaminewhetherthetrademarkinquestioniswell-known:（1）Theestablishmentoftheaccusedinfringementoftrademarkrightsorunfaircompetitionbehaviorisnotbasedonthefactthatthetrademarkiswell-known;（2）Theaccusedoftrademarkinfringementorunfaircompetitionisnotestablishedduetothelackofotherlegalrequirements.Theplaintiff'sclaimthatthedomainnameregisteredandusedbythedefendantisthesameorsimilartotheregisteredtrademark,andthatrelatedgoodsaretradedthroughthedomainnameine-commerce,whichissufficienttocausetherelevantpublictomistakenlybelievethattheinfringementiscaused,shallbehandledinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofitem(1)oftheprecedingparagraph.Article4:Whenapeople'scourtdetermineswhetheratrademarkiswell-known,itshallbebasedonthefactthatitiswell-known,takingintoaccountallthefactorsstipulatedinArticle14oftheTrademarkLaw.However,thisdoesnotapplytosituationswhereallthefactorsstipulatedinthisarticlearesufficienttodeterminewhetherthetrademarkiswell-knownbasedonthespecificcircumstancesofthecase.Article5:Ifapartyclaimsthatatrademarkiswell-known,theyshallprovidethefollowingevidencebasedonthespecificcircumstancesofthecasetoprovethatthetrademarkwasalreadywell-knownatthetimeoftheallegedinfringementoftrademarkrightsorunfaircompetition:（1）Themarketshare,salesarea,profitsandtaxesofthegoodsusingthetrademark;（2）Thedurationofuseofthetrademark;（3）Themethod,duration,degree,capitalinvestment,andgeographicalscopeofthepromotionoradvertisingactivitiesofthetrademark;（4）Thetrademarkhasarecordofbeingprotectedasawell-knowntrademark;（5）Themarketreputationenjoyedbythetrademark;（6）Otherfactsprovingthatthetrademarkisalreadywell-known.Thetime,scope,andmethodoftrademarkusementionedintheprecedingparagraph,includingthesituationofcontinuoususebeforeitsapprovalandregistration.Thepeople'scourtshallobjectivelyandcomprehensivelyexamineevidencesuchasthedurationoftrademarkuse,industryranking,marketresearchreports,marketvalueassessmentreports,andwhetherthetrademarkhasbeenrecognizedasawell-knowntrademark,inconjunctionwithotherevidenceoftrademarkrecognition.Article6:Iftheplaintifffilesacivillawsuitonthegroundsthattheuseofthesuedtrademarkinfringesuponitsexclusiverighttousearegisteredtrademark,andthedefendantraisesadefenseorcounterclaimonthegroundsthattheplaintiff'sregisteredtrademarkreplicates,imitates,ortranslatesitspreviouslyunregisteredwell-knowntrademark,itshallbeartheburdenofproofforthefactthatitspreviouslyunregisteredtrademarkiswell-known.Article7:Ifatrademarkthathasbeenrecognizedaswell-knownbyapeople'scourtortheStateAdministrationforIndustryandCommercebeforetheallegedinfringementoftrademarkrightsorunfaircompetitionoccurs,andthedefendantdoesnotobjecttothefactthatthetrademarkiswell-known,thepeople'scourtshallrecognizeit.Ifthedefendantraisesanobjection,theplaintiffshallstillbeartheburdenofproofforthefactthatthetrademarkiswell-known.Unlessotherwiseprovidedinthisinterpretation,thepeople'scourtshallnotapplytheselfadmissionruleofcivillitigationevidencetothefactthatatrademarkiswell-known.Article8:IftheplaintiffhasprovidedbasicevidencethatatrademarkthatiswidelyknowntothepublicwithinChinaiswell-known,orifthedefendantdoesnotobject,thepeople'scourtshallrecognizethefactthatthetrademarkiswell-known.Article9:Ifitissufficienttocausetherelevantpublictomisidentifythesourceofthegoodsusingthewell-knowntrademarkandthesuedtrademark,ortomaketherelevantpublicbelievethatthereisaspecificconnectionbetweentheoperatorsusingthewell-knowntrademarkandthesuedtrademark,suchaslicenseuseoraffiliatedenterpriserelationship,itbelongstothe"easytocauseconfusion"stipulatedinArticle13(1)oftheTrademarkLaw.Ifitissufficienttomaketherelevantpublicbelievethatthesuedtrademarkhasaconsiderabledegreeofconnectionwiththewell-knowntrademark,andweakenthedistinctivenessofthewell-knowntrademark,belittlethemarketreputationofthewell-knowntrademark,orimproperlyusethemarketreputationofthewell-knowntrademark,itbelongstothe"misleadingthepublic,causingpossibleharmtotheinterestsoftheregistrantofthewell-knowntrademark"stipulatedinArticle13(2)oftheTrademarkLaw.Article10:Iftheplaintiffrequeststoprohibitthedefendantfromusingatrademarkorenterprisenamethatisidenticalorsimilartotheplaintiff'swell-knownregisteredtrademarkondissimilargoods,thepeople'scourtshallmakeajudgmentbasedonthespecificcircumstancesofthecase,takingintoaccountthefollowingfactors:（1）Thedegreeofdistinctivenessofthewell-knowntrademark;（2）Thelevelofawarenessofthewell-knowntrademarkamongtherelevantpublicofthegoodsusingthesuedtrademarkorenterprisename;（3）Thedegreeofassociationbetweengoodsusingwell-knowntrademarksandgoodsusingthesuedtrademarkorenterprisename;（4）Otherrelatedfactors.Article11:Ifthedefendant'suseofaregisteredtrademarkviolatestheprovisionsofArticle13oftheTrademarkLawbycopying,imitating,ortranslatingtheplaintiff'swell-knowntrademark,whichconstitutesinfringementoftrademarkrights,thepeople'scourtshall,attherequestoftheplaintiff,makeajudgmentprohibitingthedefendantfromusingthetrademarkinaccordancewiththelaw.However,ifthedefendant'sregisteredtrademarkfallsunderanyofthefollowingcircumstances,thepeople'scourtshallnotsupporttheplaintiff'srequest:（1）HasexceededthedeadlineforrequestingrevocationasstipulatedinArticle41(2)oftheTrademarkLaw;（2）Whenthedefendantfiledtheregistrationapplication,theplaintiff'strademarkwasnotwell-known.Article12:Ifanunregisteredwell-knowntrademarkrequestedforprotectionbyapartyfallsunderthecircumstanceswhereitcannotbeusedorregisteredasatrademarkasstipulatedinArticles10,11,and12oftheTrademarkLaw,thepeople'scourtshallnotsupportit.Article13:Incivildisputesinvolvingtheprotectionofwell-knowntrademarks,therecognitionoftrademarkfamebythepeople'scourtshallonlyserveasafactofthecaseandareasonforthejudgment,andshallnotbeincludedinthemaintextofthejudgment;Ifthedisputeisresolvedthroughmediation,thefactthatthetrademarkiswell-knownshallnotberecognizedinthemediationagreement.Article14:Incaseofanyinconsistencybetweenthepreviousjudicialinterpretationsofthiscourtandthisinterpretation,thisinterpretationshallprevail.
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Regulations on the Recognition and Protection of Famous Trademarks, Order No. 5 of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of the People's Republic of China, issued on April 17, 2003
Article1:TheseregulationsareformulatedinaccordancewiththeTrademarkLawofthePeople'sRepublicofChina(hereinafterreferredtoastheTrademarkLaw)andtheImplementingRegulationsoftheTrademarkLawofthePeople'sRepublicofChina(hereinafterreferredtoastheImplementingRegulations).Article2:Thewell-knowntrademarkreferredtointheseregulationsreferstoatrademarkthatiswidelyknownandenjoysahighreputationamongtherelevantpublicinChina.Therelevantpublicincludesconsumersrelatedtothegoodsorservicesindicatedbythetrademark,otheroperatorsproducingtheaforementionedgoodsorprovidingservices,aswellassellersandrelatedpersonnelinvolvedindistributionchannels.Thefollowingmaterialscanbeusedasevidencetoprovethatthetrademarkiswell-known:（1）Relevantmaterialsprovingthelevelofpublicawarenessofthetrademark;（2）Relevantmaterialsprovingthedurationofuseofthetrademark,includingthehistoryandscopeofitsuseandregistration;（3）Relevantmaterialsprovingtheduration,degree,andgeographicalscopeofanypromotionalworkforthetrademark,includingthemethodsofadvertisingandpromotionalactivities,geographicalscope,typesofpromotionalmedia,andadvertisingvolume,etc;（4）Relevantmaterialsprovingtheprotectionrecordofthetrademarkasawell-knowntrademark,includingrelevantmaterialsprovingthatthetrademarkhasbeenprotectedasawell-knowntrademarkinChinaorothercountriesandregions;（5）Otherevidencematerialstoprovethefameofthetrademark,includingtheproduction,salesvolume,salesrevenue,profitsandtaxes,salesareaandotherrelevantmaterialsofthemaingoodsusingthetrademarkinthepastthreeyears.Article4:IfapartybelievesthatatrademarkthathasbeenpreliminarilyapprovedandpublishedbyothersviolatestheprovisionsofArticle13oftheTrademarkLaw,theymayraiseanobjectiontotheTrademarkOfficeinaccordancewiththeprovisionsoftheTrademarkLawanditsimplementingregulations,andsubmitrelevantmaterialstoprovethattheirtrademarkiswell-known.IfthepartiesconcernedbelievethatatrademarkalreadyregisteredbyothersviolatesArticle13oftheTrademarkLaw,theymayrequesttheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardtorevoketheregisteredtrademarkinaccordancewiththeprovisionsoftheTrademarkLawanditsimplementingregulations,andsubmitrelevantmaterialstoprovethatthetrademarkiswell-known.Article5:Intheworkoftrademarkmanagement,ifapartybelievesthatatrademarkusedbyothersfallsunderthecircumstancesstipulatedinArticle13oftheTrademarkLawandrequestsprotectionofitswell-knowntrademark,itmaysubmitawrittenrequesttotheadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommerceatorabovethecity(prefecture,state)levelwherethecaseoccurstoprohibititsuse,andsubmitrelevantmaterialstoprovethatitstrademarkiswell-known.Atthesametime,copyandreporttotheprovincialadministrationforindustryandcommercewhereitislocated.Article6:Afterreceivinganapplicationfortheprotectionofawell-knowntrademarkintrademarkmanagement,theadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommerceshallexaminewhetherthecasefallsunderthefollowingcircumstancesasstipulatedinArticle13oftheTrademarkLaw:（1）Unauthorizeduseofatrademarkthatisidenticalorsimilartoawell-knowntrademarknotregisteredinChinabyothersonthesameorsimilargoods,whichcaneasilyleadtoconfusion;（2）Unauthorizeduseofatrademarkthatisidenticalorsimilartoawell-knowntrademarkalreadyregisteredinChinabyothersongoodsthataredifferentordissimilarcaneasilymisleadthepublicandpotentiallyharmtheinterestsoftheregistrantofthewell-knowntrademark.Forcasesconsideredtofallundertheabovecircumstances,themunicipal(prefecture,state)administrationforindustryandcommerceshall,withinfifteenworkingdaysfromthedateofacceptingtherequestoftheparties,submitallcasematerialstotheprovincial(autonomousregion,municipalitydirectlyunderthecentralgovernment)administrationforindustryandcommercewhereitislocated,andissueanoticeofacceptanceofthecasetotheparties;Theadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommerceoftheprovince(autonomousregion,municipalitydirectlyunderthecentralgovernment)shallsubmitallcasematerialstotheTrademarkOfficewithinfifteenworkingdaysfromthedateofacceptingtherequestoftheparties.Iftheprovincialadministrationforindustryandcommercewherethepartiesarelocatedconsidersthatthecasefallsundertheabove-mentionedcircumstances,theymayalsosubmitittotheTrademarkOffice.Forcasesthatarenotconsideredtofallundertheabovecircumstances,timelyhandlingshouldbemadeinaccordancewiththerelevantprovisionsoftheTrademarkLawanditsimplementingregulations.Article7:Theprovincial(autonomousregion,municipalitydirectlyundertheCentralGovernment)administrationforindustryandcommerceshallreviewthecasematerialsrelatedtotheprotectionofwell-knowntrademarkssubmittedbythemunicipal(prefecture,state)administrationforindustryandcommercewithinitsjurisdiction.ForcasesthatareconsideredtofallunderthecircumstancesofArticle6,Paragraph1oftheseRegulations,theyshallbesubmittedtotheTrademarkOfficewithinfifteenworkingdaysfromthedateofreceivingthecasematerialssubmittedbytheadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommerceofthecity(prefecture,state)withintheirjurisdiction.ForcasesthatarenotconsideredtofallunderthecircumstancesofArticle6,Paragraph1oftheseRegulations,therelevantmaterialsshallbereturnedtotheoriginalfilingauthorityfortimelyprocessinginaccordancewiththerelevantprovisionsoftheTrademarkLawanditsimplementingregulations.Article8:TheTrademarkOfficeshallmakeadeterminationwithinsixmonthsfromthedateofreceivingtherelevantcasematerials,andnotifytheadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommerceoftheprovince(autonomousregion,municipalitydirectlyundertheCentralGovernment)wherethecaseoccurredofthedeterminationresult,andcopytheadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommerceoftheprovince(autonomousregion,municipalitydirectlyundertheCentralGovernment)wherethepartyislocated.Exceptforthematerialsprovingthetrademarkiswell-known,theTrademarkOfficeshallreturnothercasematerialstotheadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommerceoftheprovince(autonomousregion,municipalitydirectlyundertheCentralGovernment)wherethecaseoccurred.Article9:Ifatrademarkhasnotbeenrecognizedasawell-knowntrademark,withinoneyearfromthedateoftherecognitionresult,thepartiesshallnotmakeanotherrequestforrecognitionbasedonthesamefactsandreasonsforthesametrademark.Article10:Whenrecognizingawell-knowntrademark,theTrademarkOfficeandtheTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardshallcomprehensivelyconsiderallfactorsstipulatedinArticle14oftheTrademarkLaw,butshallnotassumethatthetrademarkmustmeetallthefactorsstipulatedinthatarticle.Article11:Whenprotectingwell-knowntrademarks,theTrademarkOffice,TrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoard,andlocaladministrativedepartmentsforindustryandcommerceshallconsiderthedistinctivenessanddegreeoffameofthetrademark.Article12:WhenapartyrequestsprotectionoftheirtrademarkinaccordancewithArticle13oftheTrademarkLaw,theymayproviderecordsofthetrademarkbeingprotectedasawell-knowntrademarkbyrelevantcompetentauthoritiesinChina.Ifthescopeofprotectionofthecaseacceptedisbasicallythesameasthatofthecasealreadyprotectedasawell-knowntrademark,andtheotherpartyhasnoobjectiontothetrademarkbeingwell-known,oralthoughthereisanobjection,cannotprovideevidencethatthetrademarkisnotwell-known,theadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommerceacceptingthecasemaymakearulingorhandlethecasebasedontheconclusionoftheprotectionrecord.Ifthescopeofprotectionofthecaseacceptedisdifferentfromthatofthecasealreadyprotectedasawell-knowntrademark,oriftheotherpartyhasobjectionstothewell-knowntrademarkandprovidesevidencethatthetrademarkisnotwell-known,theTrademarkOfficeorTrademarkReviewandAdjudicationBoardshallre-examinethematerialsofthewell-knowntrademarkandmakeadetermination.Article13:Ifapartybelievesthatsomeoneelse'sregistrationoftheirwell-knowntrademarkasanenterprisenamemaydeceiveorcausemisunderstandingstothepublic,theymayapplytothecompetentauthorityforenterprisenameregistrationtorevoketheregistrationoftheenterprisename.Thecompetentauthorityforenterprisenameregistrationshallhandleitinaccordancewiththe"RegulationsontheAdministrationofEnterpriseNameRegistration".Article14:Theadministrativedepartmentsforindustryandcommerceatalllevelsshallstrengthentheprotectionofwell-knowntrademarks,andpromptlytransfercasessuspectedofcounterfeitingtrademarkcrimestorelevantdepartments.Article15:Thedecisiontoprotectwell-knowntrademarksshallbecopiedtotheTrademarkOfficebytheadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommerceoftheprovince(autonomousregion,municipalitydirectlyundertheCentralGovernment)wherethehandlingauthorityislocated.Article16:Theadministrativedepartmentsforindustryandcommerceatalllevelsshallestablishcorrespondingsupervisionmechanisms,formulatecorrespondingsupervisionandrestraintmeasures,andstrengthenthesupervisionandinspectionoftheentireprocessoftherecognitionofwell-knowntrademarks.Personnelinvolvedintherecognitionofwell-knowntrademarkswhoabusetheirpower,engageinfavoritismandfraud,seekimproperbenefits,andillegallyhandlemattersrelatedtotherecognitionofwell-knowntrademarksshallbesubjecttoadministrativesanctionsinaccordancewiththelaw;Thosewhocommitcrimesshallbeheldcriminallyresponsibleinaccordancewiththelaw.Article17:TheseregulationsshallcomeintoeffectonJune1,2003.TheInterimProvisionsontheRecognitionandManagementofWellknownTrademarksissuedbytheStateAdministrationforIndustryandCommerceonAugust14,1996weresimultaneouslyabolished.
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Measures for Registration and Administration of Collective Trademarks and Certification Trademarks Order No. 6 of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of the People's Republic of China
TheMeasuresfortheRegistrationandAdministrationofCollectiveTrademarksandCertificationTrademarkshavebeenreviewedandapprovedattheexecutivemeetingoftheStateAdministrationforIndustryandCommerceofthePeople'sRepublicofChina.TheyareherebypromulgatedandshallcomeintoeffectonJune1,2003.DirectorWangZhongfuApril17th,2003Article1:InaccordancewithArticle3oftheTrademarkLawofthePeople'sRepublicofChina(hereinafterreferredtoastheTrademarkLaw),theseMeasuresareformulated.Article2:TheregistrationandmanagementofcollectivetrademarksandcertificationtrademarksshallbecarriedoutinaccordancewiththerelevantprovisionsoftheTrademarkLaw,theImplementingRegulationsoftheTrademarkLawofthePeople'sRepublicofChina(hereinafterreferredtoastheImplementingRegulations),andtheseMeasures.Article3:TheprovisionsoftheseMeasuresregardinggoodsshallapplytoservices.Article4:Forapplicationsforcollectivetrademarkregistration,acertificateofsubjectqualificationshallbeattachedandthenamesandaddressesofthemembersofthecollectiveorganizationshallbedetailed;Ifageographicalindicationisappliedforregistrationasacollectivetrademark,itshallbeaccompaniedbyacertificateofsubjectqualificationandshallprovidedetailedinformationontheprofessionalandtechnicalpersonnel,professionaltestingequipment,etc.itpossessesoritsauthorizedinstitutionpossesses,inordertodemonstrateitsabilitytosupervisethespecificqualityofthegeographicalindicationtrademark.Thegroup,associationorotherorganizationapplyingfortheregistrationofageographicalindicationasacollectivetrademarkshallbecomposedofmembersfromtheareaindicatedbythegeographicalindication.Article5:Whenapplyingforcertificationoftrademarkregistration,acertificateofsubjectqualificationshallbeattachedanddetailedinformationshallbeprovidedontheprofessionalandtechnicalpersonnel,professionaltestingequipment,etc.possessedbytheapplicantoritsauthorizedinstitution,todemonstrateitsabilitytosupervisethespecificqualityofthegoodscertifiedbythecertificationtrademark.Article6:Forapplicationstoregistergeographicalindicationsascollectivetrademarksorcertificationtrademarks,approvaldocumentsfromthepeople'sgovernmentorindustryregulatorydepartmentinchargeoftheareaindicatedbythegeographicalindicationshallalsobeattached.Foreignersorforeignenterprisesapplyingtoregistergeographicalindicationsascollectivetrademarksorcertificationtrademarksshallprovideproofthatthegeographicalindicationislegallyprotectedinitsnameinitscountryoforigin.Article7:Ifageographicalindicationisregisteredasacollectivetrademarkoracertificationtrademark,thefollowinginformationshallbestatedintheapplicationdocuments:（1）Thespecificquality,reputation,orothercharacteristicsofthegoodsindicatedbythegeographicalindication;（2）Therelationshipbetweenthespecificquality,reputation,orothercharacteristicsoftheproductandthenaturalandculturalfactorsoftheregionindicatedbythegeographicalindication;（3）Thescopeoftheareaindicatedbythegeographicalindication.Article8:Geographicalindicationsappliedforregistrationascollectivetrademarksorcertificationtrademarksmaybethenameoftheregionindicatedbythegeographicalindication,orothervisibleindicationsthatcanindicatetheoriginofacertaincommodityfromthatregion.Theareareferredtointheprecedingparagraphdoesnotneedtobecompletelyconsistentwiththecurrentadministrativedivisionnameandscopeofthatarea.Article9:Ifmultiplegeographicalindicationsforwineformhomophonesorhomophones,eachgeographicalindicationcanberegisteredasacollectivetrademarkorcertificationtrademark,providedthatthesegeographicalindicationscanbedistinguishedfromeachotheranddonotmisleadthepublic.Article10:Therulesfortheuseandmanagementofcollectivetrademarksshallinclude:（1）Thepurposeofusingcollectivetrademarks;（2）Thequalityofgoodsusingthecollectivetrademark;（3）Theproceduresforusingthecollectivetrademark;（4）Therightandobligationtousethecollectivetrademark;（5）Theresponsibilitythatmembersshouldbearforviolatingtheirusagemanagementrules;（6）Theregistrant'sinspectionandsupervisionsystemforgoodsusingthecollectivetrademark.Article11:Therulesfortheuseandmanagementofcertificationtrademarksshallinclude:（1）Thepurposeofusingthecertificationtrademark;（2）Thespecificqualityofthegoodscertifiedbythetrademark;（3）Theconditionsforusingthecertificationtrademark;（4）Theproceduresforusingthecertificationtrademark;（5）Therightandobligationtousethecertificationtrademark;（6）Theusershallbeartheresponsibilityforviolatingtheusagemanagementrules;（7）Theregistrant'sinspectionandsupervisionsystemforgoodsusingthecertificationtrademark.Article12:Ifthegeographicalindicationofwineorspiritsregisteredasacollectivetrademarkorcertificationtrademarkbyothersdoesnotoriginatefromtheregionindicatedbythegeographicalindication,evenifthetruesourceofthegoodsisalsoindicated,ortranslatedtextisused,oraccompaniedbyexpressionssuchas"certain","certain","certain","certain",etc.,theprovisionsofArticle16oftheTrademarkLawshallapply.Article13:Thecontentofthepreliminaryapprovalannouncementforcollectivetrademarksandcertificationtrademarksshallincludethefulltextorabstractoftherulesfortheuseandmanagementofthetrademark.AnymodificationoftherulesfortheuseandmanagementofcollectivetrademarksorcertificationtrademarksbytheregistrantshallbesubmittedtotheTrademarkOfficeforexaminationandapproval,andshalltakeeffectfromthedateofannouncement.Article14:Ifthereisachangeinthemembersofthecollectivetrademarkregistrant,theregistrantshallapplytotheTrademarkOfficeforachangeintheregistereditems,whichshallbeannouncedbytheTrademarkOffice.Article15:Ifitisproventhatthetrademarkregistrantpermitsotherstousetheirtrademark,theregistrantshallreporttotheTrademarkOfficeforfilingwithinoneyear,andtheTrademarkOfficeshallmakeanannouncement.Article16:Whenapplyingforthetransferofcollectivetrademarksorcertificationtrademarks,thetransfereeshallhavethecorrespondingsubjectqualificationsandcomplywiththeprovisionsoftheTrademarkLaw,theImplementingRegulations,andtheseMeasures.Ifacollectivetrademarkoracertificationtrademarkistransferred,therightssuccessorshallhavethecorrespondingsubjectqualificationandcomplywiththeprovisionsoftheTrademarkLaw,theImplementingRegulations,andtheseMeasures.Article17:Collectivemembersofacollectivetrademarkregistrantmayusethecollectivetrademarkaftercompletingtheproceduresstipulatedintherulesfortheuseandmanagementofthecollectivetrademark.Collectivetrademarksshallnotbelicensedtononcollectivemembersforuse.Article18:Anyonewhomeetstheconditionsstipulatedintherulesforthemanagementoftheuseofacertificationtrademarkmayusethecertificationtrademarkaftercompletingtheproceduresstipulatedintherules,andtheregistrantshallnotrefusetohandletheprocedures.ThelegitimateuseofthegeographicalindicationinthesecondparagraphofArticle6oftheImplementationRegulationsreferstothelegitimateuseoftheplacenameinthegeographicalindication.Article19:Ifacollectivetrademarkisused,theregistrantshallissuea"CertificateofCollectiveTrademarkUse"totheuser;Ifusingacertificationtrademark,theregistrantshallissuetheusera"CertificateofTrademarkUse".Article20:Theregistrantofacertificationtrademarkshallnotusethecertificationtrademarkonthegoodstheyprovide.Article21:Iftheregistrantofacollectivetrademarkoracertificationtrademarkfailstoeffectivelymanageorcontroltheuseofthetrademark,resultingintheuseofgoodsthatdonotmeettherequirementsofitsusagemanagementrulesandcausingharmtoconsumers,theadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommerceshallordercorrectionwithinaspecifiedperiodoftime;Thosewhorefusetomakecorrectionsshallbefineduptothreetimestheirillegalgains,butnotexceedingamaximumof30000yuan;Iftherearenoillegalgains,afineofupto10000yuanshallbeimposed.Article22:ThosewhoviolatetheprovisionsofArticle6oftheImplementationRegulations,Article14,Article15,Article17,Article18,andArticle20oftheseMeasuresshallbeorderedbytheadministrativedepartmentforindustryandcommercetomakecorrectionswithinaspecifiedperiodoftime;Thosewhorefusetomakecorrectionsshallbefineduptothreetimestheirillegalgains,butnotexceedingamaximumof30000yuan;Iftherearenoillegalgains,afineofupto10000yuanshallbeimposed.Article23:TheseMeasuresshallcomeintoeffectonJune1,2003.TheMeasuresfortheRegistrationandAdministrationofCollectiveTrademarksandCertificationTrademarks,issuedbytheStateAdministrationforIndustryandCommerceonDecember30,1994,aresimultaneouslyabolished.
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