中國商標註冊可以用日本地方名字

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:
枝野経済産業相は１３日の参院予算委員会で、日本の農産物名や地名が中国などで商標登録申請されている問題に関連し、「大変ゆゆしき事態だ。こんなものがまかり通っているとすれば、国家としてのプライドの問題ではないか。『プライドがないのか』と言いたい」と中国側を強く批判した。
　枝野氏はまた、中国政府に商標登録に関する制度と運用の改善を働きかけていることを明らかにしたうえで、「若干ではあるが、（中国側の）姿勢は変わりつつあるので引き続き厳格な運用を求めたい」と語った。
（2012年3月13日18時35分 読売新聞）
(試譯文)
On the 13th in Upper House Budget Committee, Edano the Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry strongly criticized the China side with regard to the problem that China allowed trademark registration applications using Japanese agricultural-products names and place names, said that "it is a very grave situation; if it is allowed to go through, is it not a problem of the pride of the state. And want to say that 'it's a problem of the pride'".
Mr. Edano also noted that as there were indications that the Chinese government had worked towards improving the system and its usage over trademark registration, had said that "although only in part, the posture (of China side) is changing, wants to ask for continuous strict usage."

It is interesting to know that in China it is possible to register trademarks using Japanese proper names.