State Administration for Industry and Commerce of the PRC Demanded Local Authorities to Reinforce Protection over the Trademark Rights for Taiwan’s Agricultural Products.

The PRC State Administration For Industry and Commerce demanded local industrial and commercial authorities to guide the manufacturers and distributors of Taiwanese agricultural products to seek protection under the Trademark Law by registration of ordinary mark, certification mark, or collective mark in China.

For such purpose, any improper act of outflanking registration of the well-known marks for Taiwanese agricultural products is strictly prohibited in the process of trademark examination, trademark opposition decision, and trademark dispute decision.  Also, effective measures are to be taken to step up the examination on trademark registration applications of Taiwanese agricultural products.

The State Administration for Industry and Commerce also emphasized that local industrial and commercial authorities should undertake to supervise the market to protect the IP rights for Taiwanese agricultural products.  In addition, the acts with respect to false representation of origin, false advertisement, and infringement upon the exclusive right to a registered trademark should be investigated and punished to form and regulate the trading order in fruit market, which can also be strengthened by equipping the consumers with knowledge about difference between fruits of “Taiwanese origin” and “Taiwanese varieties”, so as to facilitate timely handling of complaints filed for infringement. (2006.11)

/CCS