Why Couldn’t the Trademark “Bond” Be Applied to Contraceptives?

(By Albert Chen) The Beijing High People’s Court (the “Beijing High Court”) established the “merchandising right” in a 2011 judgment on an administrative dispute between the Trademark Adjudication and Review Board (the “Board”) and DANJAQ, LLC (the “DANJAQ”). That was the first judicial definition of the right, and the first time it was included as a protected “prior right.”

In today’s post, we would like to describe the facts in the case, and introduce to our readers the opinions of Beijing High Court and our comments on the matter.

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Why Couldn’t the Trademark “Bond” Be Applied to Contraceptives?

(By Albert ChenThe Beijing High People’s Court (the “Beijing High Court”) established the “merchandising right” in a 2011 judgment on an administrative dispute between the Trademark Adjudication and Review Board (the “Board”) and DANJAQ, LLC (the “DANJAQ”). That was the first judicial definition of the right, and the first time it was included as a protected “first right.” The decision can be considered a clarification of the “merchandising right” by the judicial organs as well as broadening the scope of first rights.

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Could Bolt’s Portrait be Used in Trademark?

By Albert Chen

The fastest man Usain Bolt continued his legend in London Olympics by claiming 3 gold medals, accompany with his record, Bolt’s celebration gesture also impresses the spectators. But in recent, a company from China’s Liaoning Province (the “Liaoning Company”) applied sprinter’s celebration gesture as his trademark.

The trademark applied by Liaoning Company is the combination of a black sportsman in yellow jersey and Bolt’s iconic victory gesture on the left half, and the Chinese character of “Real Hero” on the right side (the “Real Hero trademark”). There are three classes have been applied this time, among which the application in Class 43 has been rejected for others’ first registration, the application in Class 25 was approved and that in Class 28 is facing the opposition from Bolt’s team.

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For or Against Law? Fang Zhouzi Photoshopped Han Han’s “Jail Picture” on Weibo

Han says he is 173 cm, namely 5 feet 6 inches

By You Yunting

Some friends raised me a question on Zhihu.com, a Quora like website in China, that Fang Zhouzi, a well known blogger in China, put his photographed picture of Han Han, in which Han’s background is the height table in jail , then could it be kind of reputation infringement against Han? (see http://weibo.com/1195403385/yiRc64nL7, http://weibo.com/1195403385/yiQZJhg1G)

The battle between Fang and Han is the hottest spot on China internet, and our website once posted articles to introduce the online battle and laws and regulations related. But from this January, Fang’s Weibo is flooded with more than 10 tweets against Han each day, which is truly annoying. As a man favoring Han Han, it’s truly a distress for me to face the question on Zhihu.com. But for the answer concerns the freedom of speech, though I could have refused it, I finally choose to share my opinions on it even there’s only boots rather than applauses ahead. Surely, the reply is only focusing on the “infringement” by two tweets in the links above.

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