A Big Turn on Outflanked PRC Registrations of Geographical Designations of Celebrated Taiwanese Tea Cultivation Areas: Some Taiwanese Holders of the Outflanked Registered Marks Will Offer Their Marks for Use by Fellow Taiwanese Tea Merchants Free of Charge.

TIPO advises that those businesses or individuals who plan to do business in the PRC had better file Chinese applications for their marks as early as possible to prevent possible disputes arising from trademark rights in the PRC, which may be difficult to resolve as the case on the dispute over outflanked PRC registrations of the geographical designations of celebrated Taiwanese tea cultivation areas.  

Some Taiwanese tea farmers complained about registrations of some designations of Taiwanese tea cultivation areas being outflanked in the PRC, including Ah Li Shan, Li Shan and Sun Moon Lake (Chinese: 阿里山, 梨山, and日月潭respectively)   In light of the complaint, TIPO acted on its own capacity to approach the owners of some of the outflanked registered marks who are Taiwanese businesses.  Some of these owners have agreed to provide their marks for use by fellow Taiwanese tea merchants in the PRC free of charge.  

TIPO conducted a search and the result shows these tea cultivation area designations are outflanked for registration as well:  Wu Sher Zhi Chun (Spring of Wu Sher), Shan Lin Xi, Xi Tou, Song Buo Chang Qing, Mei Shan, etc. (Chinese: 霧社之春, 杉林溪, 溪頭, 松柏長青, 梅山, etc.)  TIPO compiled on its own initiative a list of the designations of the cultivation areas of a total of 36 famous special agricultural products and recommends that the relevant trade association, organizations and businesses have these designations filed for trademark registration in the PRC as soon as possible and the government will provide them with necessary assistance.  (2006.3)

/EMA