13
Apr
2021
@IAM_Alerts Two giants of the bitcoin mining space set to clash in Beijing IP Court litigation https://t.co/IqwW8ByZBq https://t.co/hXRNToP2dM Read more
Industry Reports - More Updates
China
Wanhuida Intellectual Property
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17 Mar2021
New regulations on enterprise name registration enter into force
Good news for brand owners as updated regulations on enterprise names come into force in China. Among the amendments are provisions to prevent brands from piggybacking on another’s reputation as well as tightening the deadline by which brands must respond to orders to stop using an enterprise name. Full text
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24 Feb2021
Shanghai releases China’s first local anti-unfair competition regulations
In welcome news for business owners, Shanghai has enforced the first local anti-unfair competition regulation in China. The rules are designed to improve business relations by providing more clarification on acts that are damaging or cause confusion among consumers. Full text
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3 Feb2021
Best strategies for fighting trademark squatting in China
While the China National IP Administration’s efforts to boost filing numbers have been immensely successful, it has inadvertently contributed to a rise in trademark squatting. Experts provide top tips for battling these bad-faith applications. Full text
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20 Jan2021
Tommy Hilfiger invalidates trademark piggybacking on its iconic flag logo
The Beijing IP Court and Beijing High Court have overturned a China National IP Administration decision and ruled in favour of Tommy Hilfiger in an invalidation action against a copycat trademark, which, when in its colour form, mimics Tommy Hilfiger’s iconic flag logo. This could set a valuable precedent for stakeholders in the fashion industry. Full text
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13 Jan2021
Everything you need to know about China’s new Patent Law
The fourth amendment to China’s Patent Law will come into effect on 1 June 2021. Local experts outline the key changes to be aware of. Full text
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9 Dec2020
How to write damages into a settlement agreement in case of repeated infringement
As pre-litigation mediation becomes a popular method of settlement for infringement cases, it is crucial to know how to navigate this in order to avoid repeated infringement. Including a strong damages clause in a settlement agreement is one effective way to help to prevent this. Full text
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2 Dec2020
Van Cleef & Arpels' four-leaf clover 3D trademark invalidated in China due to lack of distinctiveness
The Beijing IP Court recently denied the inherent and acquired distinctiveness of Van Cleef & Arpels' four-leaf clover 3D trademark. Van Cleef & Arpels appealed before the Beijing High Court. The Beijing IP Court has set a high threshold in assessing the registrability of a 3D trademark which consists of a product shape. It remains to be seen whether this view is shared by the Beijing High Court. Full text
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4 Nov2020
‘Clear and convincing evidence standard’ applies to prior art taking the form of physical objects
An exemplary case – the first patent administrative case appealed before the Supreme People’s Court IP Tribunal – shines a guiding light on the clear and convincing evidence standard, where the prior art is a physical object, in this case a mobile phone. Full text
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14 Oct2020
What brand owners should know in the battle against bad-faith trademarks in China
Trademark experts offer advice on filing against bad-faith trademarks in China, which includes court practice, case law and not taking Article 4 as a universal remedy in trademark disputes. Full text
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7 Oct2020
Landmark judicial interpretation promulgated in patent administrative cases
The Supreme People's Court recently promulgated the Provisions on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Laws in Adjudicating Administrative Cases Involving Granting and Affirmation of Patent Rights, which is the first judicial interpretation concerning the trial of patent administrative cases. This article summarises the judicial interpretation's main points. Full text
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9 Sep2020
IP Tribunal upholds infringement finding on hairstyling patent
The Supreme People’s Court IP Tribunal has affirmed an earlier infringement decision and provided invaluable guidance on interpreting the language of a patent claim Full text
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2 Sep2020
Shandong High Court awards Rmb500,000 over collective geographical indication wine mark in top 10 IP case
The Shandong High Court has selected a case involving the collective geographical indication (GI) trademark Bordeaux波尔多 as one of the 2019 Top 10 IP Cases. The matter is expected to serve as a point of reference for the administrative and judicial protection of GIs in future cases Full text
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12 Aug2020
L’Oréal counterfeit case is shining example of how to bring a case to court
The 2019 ruling in a case pertaining to counterfeit L’Oréal products serves as a model for distinguishing between the prime culprits and accessories, and applying penalties accordingly. Full text
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22 Jul2020
Case sheds light on assessing the inventiveness of solving a technical problem
In April 2020 the IP Court of the Supreme People’s Court in 2019 chose Judgment (2019) Zui Gao Fa Zhi Xing Zhong No 32 as exemplary for its significance in clarifying the level of description required for a technical problem and its solution in an assessment of inventiveness. Full text
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8 Jul2020
Supreme Court clarification on hybrid technical features chosen as exemplary case
The Supreme People’s Court has selected as an exemplary case a 2019 ruling in which the IP Tribunal clarified that if a technical feature defines or implies a specific structure of an invention solution, it is not a functional feature in principle, even though it defines a function (or effect) that it can achieve. The ruling is expected to help establish a unified jurisprudence on ascertaining functional features in patent infringement lawsuits in China. Full text
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1 Jul2020
Supreme People’s Court denies trademark infringement in bad-faith lawsuit against Michael Kors
The Supreme People’s Court has confirmed previous judgments to dismiss an infringement claim initiated by a Chinese trademark owner against the world-famous brand Michael Kors, finding that the case had been filed in bad faith. Full text
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17 Jun2020
Design space must be considered when determining similarity of designs
Article 23 of China’s Patent Law provides that a design must significantly differ from prior designs in order to be patented – any design that is substantially similar will be denied. The similarity between a design patent and a prior design is ascertained from the perspective of an ordinary consumer with regard to the specific category of product that incorporates the design patent. Full text
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10 Jun2020
Article 4 of the new Trademark Law fights against bad-faith filings
The fourth amendment to China’s Trademark Law came into force on 1 November 2019. Article 4 now states that a "trademark filed in bad faith without intention to use shall be rejected”. This modification is also mentioned in Article 44.1, which provides that any mark registered in violation of Article 4 or by fraudulent or unfair means will be declared invalid. Full text
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27 May2020
Stores’ unauthorised use of trademarks on signboards requires clarification
Foreign brand owners in China are becoming increasingly concerned about stores using their trademarks on signboards without permission. This is complicated by the fact that these shops are selling genuine goods that are the result of parallel imports. Full text
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20 May2020
Supreme People’s Court ruling on Christian Dior 3D mark selected as a guiding case
The Judicial Committee of China’s Supreme People’s Court has listed the ruling on the Christian Dior 3D trademark of 26 April 2018 as Guiding Case 114. The judgment overturned the decisions of the Trademark Review and Adjudication Board, the Beijing IP Court and the Beijing High Court, which had refused the registration of Christian Dior’s 3D trademark. The Supreme People’s Court ruling will therefore be binding on Chinese courts. Full text
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13 May2020
CNIPA’s latest patent practice and 2020 patent objectives
A rundown of the China National Intellectual Property Administration's most recent patent filing statistics and what the office is planning for the rest of 2020. Full text
