In an unpublished decision, on March 31, 2020, the Beijing Chaoyang District Market Supervision Administration fined Alibaba Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. an undisclosed amount in 京朝市监工罚（2020）230号 for attempting to register multiple coronavirus-related trademarks in China on behalf of several applicants. Alibaba was acting as a trademark agent knowingly (or should have known) in violation of circumstances specified in Articles 15 and 32 of the Trademark Law. The maximum fine that can be imposed is 100,000 RMB (about $14,000).
Michael Jordan Prevails in Eight-Year Trademark Battle at China’s Supreme People’s Court
In a long-running dispute with Qiaodan Sports Co., Ltd., Michael Jordan recently prevailed at China’s Supreme People’s Court in revoking a trademark for “Qiaodan and Device” (Qiaodan is the transliteration of Jordan into Chinese). The China National Intellectual Property Office (CNIPA) must now reexamine the trademark in light of the Court’s ruling.
China Surpasses U.S. to Become Top Filer of PCT International Patent Applications in 2019
In a recent press release, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) announced the China became the top Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) patent filer in 2019. China filed 58,990 PCT applications in 2019 versus the United States’ 57,840 PCT applications. The PCT allows applicants to delay filing patent applications in contracting states for an additional 18 months from from what is normally the 12-month deadline under the Paris Convention. The PCT also provides an international search report that can help applicants …
Amazon’s Neutral Patent Evaluation Process Webinar Video Available
Amazon’s Utility Patent Neutral Evaluation process gives patent owners an additional avenue to take, if their utility patent is being infringed by another seller on Amazon. In this webinar, a panel discussed the practical implications. Schwegman Analytics Chair & Firm Compliance Officer Mark Stignani moderated. Of Counsel attorney Francois deVilliers discussed his experience trying to enforce on Amazon during his time at Plantronics. Director of China Intellectual Property Practice Aaron Wininger provided insight regarding defending from a Chinese perspective, and …