The Alliance, initiated by AGIP, will help Chinese companies locate a good, professional agent for their foreign registration and overseas trademark disputes.
BEIJING - The first meeting of the newly established “Alliance for Protecting Chinese Trademarks Overseas” concluded on May 29, 2007, in Beijing with an emphasis on the significant impact of Intellectual Property (IP) issues on the international economy.
Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property (AGIP), Sughrue Mion, PLLC, J. Vega & Asociados, Lenovo China, BOSUN Tools Group Co., Ltd, China Travel Service (CTS), Guangdong Food Importing and Exporting Company and Konka Group Co., Ltd, are currently the initial members of the Alliance.
In order to assist Chinese exporting companies in the field of international IP, China Trademark Association (CTA) decided to establish the Alliance to help Chinese companies locate a good, professional agent for their foreign registration and overseas trademark disputes while lower the companies’ cost at the same time. Creating such an alliance was originally recommended by AGIP China Office Resident- in-Charge, Ridab Abutaleb.
“In most cases, Chinese local companies find it hard to hire a good foreign agency to represent their trademark abroad because of the language and cost problems, or they even have no idea from whom they can seek assistance in case of infringement,” said CTA Deputy Director of the Professional Committee Guo Xiushen. He believes that the Alliance will be the appropriate entity to protect Chinese trademarks overseas.
CTA has proposed to establish the Alliance in the form of a four supporting-party body, as follows:
1. Foreign IP agencies; each agency will be in charge of cases in the areas it locates or specializes in.
2. Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
3. Chinese Chamber of Commerce in most of the major countries.
4. Local trademark associations around the world.
Among the four supporting parties, IP agencies play the most important part, as they will handle the actual cases and provide consultations to Chinese companies; while other bodies will be in charge of coordination and support.
In the meeting, Abutaleb stressed that all agencies will try their best to serve CTA’s member companies, not only to protect their IPRs, but also to contribute to the IP development in China, as they have done in their own countries and regions.
“The agencies will also provide all CTA members with the most professional services at favorable prices,” she noted.
Abutaleb assured CTA that all the agencies are willing to participate in the work of the Alliance. She said that the three agencies represented in the Alliance have former successful experience of working with government and non-profit organizations.
Abutaleb revealed that a survey has already been circulated to all CTA members to underline major areas of interest. “We will have the second meeting after surveys are done,” she concluded.
Key attendees at the Alliance meeting were: President of CTA, Former Deputy Director of the State Administration of Industry and Commerce (SAIC), Li Jianzhong; Deputy Director of the Professional Committee, CTA, GUO Xiushen; Zhongqi Development Center, CTA, Wang Xiangming; Vice General Manager of BOSUN Tools Group Co., Ltd, Lu Guiqin; Director of CI Office, BOSUN Tools Group Co., Ltd, Hou Junyan; IP Manager, Brand and Communication Dept., Lenovo China, Yan An; Secretary General, China Travel Service (CTS) Representative from Guangdong Food Importing and Exporting Company, Wang; Resident-in-Charge, Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property Ridab Abutaleb; Executive Director, Abu-Ghazaleh Legal, Samer Pharoan; Partner, Sughrue Mion, PLLC, Kevin Smith, in addition to Partner, J. Vega & Asociados, Jose Vega.