中国為防止「悪意商標申請」、同意改善制度

A few weeks ago the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

中国「悪意の商標出願」防止へ、制度改善に合意

2014年12月06日 09時13分

　日本と中国、韓国、米国、欧州連合（ＥＵ）は５日、地名やブランド名を自らの商標として出願する「悪意の商標出願」を防ぐため、各国の制度を改善することで合意した。

　商標出願を巡っては特に中国で、日本の地名やブランドなどが勝手に登録されるケースが相次いでいる。中国当局の参加により、日本の自治体や企業などの被害を減らす効果が期待される。

　３日から東京都内で開かれていた商標当局者による国際会議で合意した。同会議は、世界の商標出願の受付件数の５割超を占める日米欧中韓が２０１２年から開催しており、今回は、商標出願を巡る被害について中国側から制度や運用を改善していくとの発言があった。

　中国では、日本の地名や商標を勝手に出願した第三者と日本の自治体などが争うケースが相次いでいる。佐賀県の伝統工芸品「有田焼」は、名称が中国の陶磁器販売業者に商標登録された。中国では「有田焼」ではなく「有田瓷器(じき)」との名称で販売することを余儀なくされた。

(試譯文)

On the 5^th (December) Japan, China, Korea, the USA and the European Union (EU), in order to stop the "trademark application with malice intent”: a third person applied to use a place name or a brand name as his trademark without permission, had agreed to improve the system in their countries.

   Concerning trademark applications in China in particular, cases which Japanese place names or brands being registered without permission was in succession. With the participation of the Chinese authority, an outcome that could reduce damages to Japanese autonomous bodies and enterprises was expected.

    From the 3^rd (December), an international conference held by the trademark authorities was set to open in Tokyo metropolitan area. Japan, the United States, Europe, China and South Korea, which handled 50% of total processed trademark application requests in the world, held the said meeting since 2012. This time on damages concerning trademark applications, there was a remark that China would improve its system and application.

    In China, cases that a Japanese autonomous body contested with a third person who applied for Japanese place name as a trademark with malice intent were in succession. The name "Arita-ware", a trademark of a traditional work in Saga prefecture, was registered by a Chinese chinaware dealer. In China, instead of "Arita-ware", the dealer was obliged to sell it by the name "Youtian ciqi".

It is interesting to note that the name "Arita-ware", a trademark of the traditional local art work in Saga prefecture, could be registered inside China by a chinaware dealer.