CHINA TRADEMARKS Statutory damages
Article 64 of the new draſt raises the maximum threshold to 2 million RMB ($324,000). Te current limit is 500,000 RMB ($81,000) and the previous draſt raised it to 1 million RMB ($162,000). Te new modification is definitely welcome.
Punitive damages
Article 64 of the new draſt confirms the introduction by the previous draſt of punitive damages, calculated as one to three times the damage compensation, in case of malicious infringement.
Administrative fines
Article 61 of the new draſt confirms the increase in fines fixed by the previous draſt.
Non-retroactiveness Article 36 of the draſt provides for non- retroactiveness of annulment decisions. Te current implementing regulations to trademark law provide similarly (Article 29).
Assignment
Article 42 of the draſt provides that in case of transfer of a trademark the transferor shall assign all the similar trademarks. Te practice of the CTMO was already applying such a principle, which is now introduced by legal provision.
Oppositions
Several changes occur in relation to oppositions in Article 35.
Qualification of opponent: Only a “person holding prior rights or of interest” may file an opposition.
Opposition appeal: Te asymmetric elimination of the opponent’s right to apply for review is confirmed. If CTMO rejects the opposition the trademark will be granted and enforceable. Te opponent, if dissatisfied with the decision from CTMO, can file a cancellation with TRAB. Te opposed party dissatisfied with the CTMO’s decision is entitled to file a review against the opposition decision.
Legal grounds: Te presence of a list of legal grounds is confirmed, namely: “Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 3 of Article 13, Article 15, Paragraph 1 of Article 16, Article 30, Article 31, or Article 32 … Article 10, Article 11, or Article 12.” It is not clarified whether the list is exhaustive.
Deadlines for appeal
Article 44 of the draſt states that an appeal against a rejection shall be filed within 15 days from receipt of the notice by which CTMO communicates the refusal. Te previous draſt
www.worldipreview.com
extended the deadline to 30 days, but this extension is cancelled in the new draſt.
Non-traditional trademarks
Article 8 of the new draſt confirms the possibility to register sound trademarks. It cancels the provision in the previous draſt which allowed the registration of single colour trademarks. Tis kind of monopoly will be discouraged. Tere are no provisions in the draſt relating to smell, holograms, and motion trademarks.
Electronic filing
Article 22 of the new draſt confirms the possibility of electronic filing for trademarks.
Multiclass application Article 22 of the new draſt confirms the possibility to file an application for trademark registration including multiple classes.
Trademark renewal
Article 40 of the new draſt extends the possibility to renew a trademark until one year aſter the expiration of the validity period. Te previous draſt did not intervene on this issue. Under the current law the deadline for renewal is six months aſter the expiration.
Fabio Giacopello is a partner at HFG. He can be contacted at:
Giacopello@hfgip.com
Bian Jun is a founder of HFG. He can be contacted at:
Zbian@hfgip.com
Fabio Giacopello has been a member of HFG since 2010 and was winner of the International Law Office Client Choice Award 2013, trademark category: China. He is a recommended lawyer by Legal 500 and is mentioned in MIP’s IP Handbook. Giacopello is a member of the anti-counterfeiting committee of INTA (China sub-committee) and cooperates with institutions for giving lectures about the Chinese and European IP systems.
Bian Jun is a patent attorney with more than 20 years’ experience. He is the holder of an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School.
World Intellectual Property Review September/October 2013 121
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196