On December 7, 2022, the People’s Court of Pudong New Area, Shanghai Municipality (Shanghai Pudong Court) received an application for behavior preservation (preliminary injunction) from CCTV International Network Co., Ltd., the authorized broadcaster of the Qatar World Cup. The Court ruled within 24 hours after receiving the application and ordered Shenyang Panqiu Technology Co., Ltd. to immediately stop streaming the 2022 Qatar World Cup on the Panqiu Bar website it operated, and Shanghai Yuebao Information Technology Co., Ltd. to immediately …
Chinese Trademark Office Cracks Down on World Cup Trademark Squatting
On December 2, 2022, the Trademark Office the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) announced the “Cracking Down on Malicious Registration of Trademarks such as “World Cup” and “Raib” in accordance with the law” (关于依法打击恶意抢注“世界杯” “拉伊卜”等商标注册的通告). Per CNIPA, a small number of enterprises and natural persons maliciously registered trademarks of hot words and logos such as “World Cup,” names of famous football stars, and World Cup mascots “LAEEB” and “Raib,” which violated social and public interests. Accordingly, CNIPA rejected 26 …
NetEase Wins 50 Million RMB & Injunction on Appeal in Minecraft Infringement Litigation at the Guangdong Higher People’s Court
On November 30, 2022, the Guangdong Higher People’s Court announced that NetEase was awarded 50 million RMB (over $7 million USD) and an injunction in an unfair competition case against Shenzhen Mini Play Company (深圳迷你玩公司) involving Minecraft and Mini Play’s similar sandbox game Mini World (迷你世界). NetEase has the exclusive right to operate Minecraft in China since 2016. This is believed to be the highest damages award in China for game infringement.
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation Releases Draft of Amendments to the Anti-Unfair Competition Law
On November 22, 2022, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) released the Anti-Unfair Competition Law of the People’s Republic of China ( Revised Draft for Comments ) (中华人民共和国反不正当竞争法（修订草案征求意见稿)). The Draft mainly focuses on the digital economy with a new article 4 stating “Operators must not use data and algorithms, technology, capital advantages, and platform rules to engage in unfair competition.” Articles focusing on trade secrets and other areas are also added.