The 'Alliance for Protecting Chinese Trademarks Overseas' Meeting Concludes in Beijing
06 Jun 2007Special to ag-IP-news Agency
BEIJING - The first meeting of the newly established "Alliance for Protecting Chinese Trademarks Overseas" members concluded on May 29, 2007 in Beijing with an emphasis on the significant impact of Intellectual Property (IP) issues on international economy.
Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property (AGIP), Sugrue Mion, PLLC, J. Vega & Asociados, Lenovo China, BOSUN Tools Group Co., Ltd, China Travel Service (CTS), Guangdong Food Importing & Exporting Company and Konka Group Co., Ltd, are currently the initial members of the Alliance.
In order to assist Chinese exporting companies in the field of international IP, China Trademark Association (CTA) decided to establish the Alliance to help Chinese companies locate a good, professional agent for their foreign registration and overseas trademark disputes while lower the companies’ cost at the same time. Creating such an alliance was originally recommended by AGIP China Office Resident In-Charge, Ridab Abutaleb.
CTA President Li Jianzhong noted that Chinese companies are increasingly aware of the importance of protecting their Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) internationally. China Trademark Association is a non-profit Organization which is under the direct leadership of the State Administration of Industry and Commerce (SAIC). It currently has over 800 members, among which over 20 members are international companies. AGIP is the first non-Chinese IP agency member.
By the end of 2006, the volume of Chinese international trade has accumulated up to $0.17 billion. With such a high foreign-related trade volume and China’s entering into the World Trade Organization (WTO), the two major issues in the international trading activities have been switched to anti-dumping and IP.
"In most cases, Chinese local companies find it hard to hire a good foreign agency to represent their trademark abroad because of the language and cost problems, or they even have no idea from whom they can seek assistance in case of infringement," said CTA Deputy Director of the Professional Committee Guo Xiushen. He believes that the Alliance will be the appropriate entity to protect Chinese trademarks overseas.
The CTA has proposed to establish the Alliance in the form of a four supporting-party body and these are:
1) Foreign IP agencies. Each agency will be in-charge of cases in the areas it locates or specializes in.
2) Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
3) Chinese Chamber of Commerce in most of the major countries.
4) Local trademark associations around the world.
2) Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
3) Chinese Chamber of Commerce in most of the major countries.
4) Local trademark associations around the world.
Among the four supporting parties, the IP agencies play the most important part as they will handle the actual cases and provide consultations to Chinese companies; while other bodies will be in charge of coordination and support.
In the meeting, Abutaleb stressed that all agencies will try their best to serve CTA’s member companies, not only to protect their IPRs but also to contribute to the IP development in China like they have done in their own countries and regions. "The agencies will also provide all CTA members with the most professional services for favorable prices," she noted.
Abutaleb assured the CTA that all the agencies are willing to participate in the work of the Alliance. She said that the three agencies represented in the Alliance have former successful experience of working with government and non-profit organizations.
Abutaleb revealed that a survey currently circulated to all CTA members to underline major areas of interest, "We will have the second meeting after surveys are done," she concluded.
Key attendees at the Alliance meeting were: President of CTA, Former deputy director of SAIC Jianzhong, Deputy Director of the Professional Committee, CTA Xiushen, Zhongqi Development Center, CTA Wang Xiangming, Vice General Manager of BOSUN Tools Group Co., Ltd Lu Guiqin, Director of CI Office, BOSUN Tools Group Co., Ltd Hou Junyan, IP Manager, Brand and Communication Dept, Lenovo China Yan An, Secretary General, China Travel Service (CTS) Representative from Guangdong Food Importing and Exporting Company Wang, Resident In-Charge, Abu-Ghazeleh Intellectual Property Ridab Abutaleb, Executive Director, Abu-Ghazaleh Legal Samer Pharoan, Partner, Sughrue Mion, PLLC Kevin Smith in addition to Partner, J. Vega & Asociados Jose Vega.
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