According to an announcement from the Shanghai Pudong New Area People’s Court on October 28, 2021, Judges Wu Zhiyong, head of the Intellectual Property Tribunal of Shanghai Pudong New Area People’s Court and Judges Ni Hongxia and Wang Xiao conducted a public trial resulting in the sentencing of defendant Ding and four others to imprisonment ranging from one year seven month to three years for the crime of counterfeiting registered trademarks for KIWI shoe polish. The Court also fined the …
Category: Trademarks
China’s Shanghai Pudong Court Sentences 69 Defendants for Counterfeiting Chanel, Cartier and Gucci Products for up to 5 Years 9 Months with a $1.8 Million USD Fine
In a October 21, 2021 announcement by the Shanghai Pudong Court, the court sentenced 69 defendants to imprisonment ranging from eight months to five years and nine months with fines ranging from 5,000 RMB to 11.7 million RMB (~$1.8 million USD) for the crime of counterfeiting registered trademarks or the crime of selling commodities bearing counterfeit registered trademarks for Chanel, Cartier, Gucci and many other brands.
USPTO Sanctions U.S. Patent Attorney for Renting out Bar Registration to Chinese Trademark Agency to File Trademark Applications
In a Final Order in Proceeding No. D2021-8 dated September 24, 2021, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office sanctioned a U.S. patent attorney for apparently renting out his bar number to a Chinese trademark agency. The agency then proceeded to file U.S. trademark applications on behalf of foreign applicants under the attorney’s name and bar number. This was presumably so that the foreign applicants could circumvent the the U.S. Counsel Rule, which sets forth a U.S. licensed attorney requirement for …
China’s National Intellectual Property Administration to Cease Issuing Paper Trademark Certificates
As announced on October 12, 2021, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) will cease issuing paper trademark certificates from January 1, 2022. Registrants can instead download an electronic version. From October 15, 2021 to December 31, 2021, CNIPA will issue both paper and electronic registration certificates during this transitional period. This follows last year’s announcement that CNIPA would cease issuing paper patent certificates.