Nike Sues China'S National Business Council To Fight For The Right To Use Liu Xiang'S Trademark

< p > according to the Wall Street journal, the famous American sports company Nike (a href= "//www.sjfzxm.com/news/index_f.asp" > Nike < /a > Inc.) is competing with Chinese trademark agencies for the right to use Liu Xiang's Chinese name as a trademark.

The Trademark Review and Adjudication Board of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of China has rejected the application of Nike to register "Liu Xiang" as a trademark. It is said that this right is still owned by Chinese clothing [6.62 2.32%] producer Shanghai a href= "//www.sjfzxm.com/pioneer/" > Liu Xiang /a /a Industrial Co., Ltd. (Shanghai Liuxiang Industrial Ltd. Co.).

This is the latest in a series of trademark disputes caused by Western companies trying to build brands in China.

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< p > the spokesman of the first intermediate people's Court of Beijing said on Wednesday that Nike told the judges about the right to use Liu Xiang's name.

The court heard the case last week, but has yet to make a decision.

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< p > it is reported that Shanghai Liu Xiang Industrial Co., Ltd. is a family business founded in the mid 80s of last century. The company bought the "Liu Xiang" trademark in 1986, which is more than ten years earlier than that of Liu Xiang in Athens.

The word "Liu Xiang" is the name of the founder of this enterprise, and the word "Xiang" stands for Yi Xiang Village, the founder of the company.

Liu Jianzhong, owner of Liu Xiang Industries Limited, said Nike had not approached Liu Xiang's trademark with them.

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< p > Nike currently has the right to use Liu Xiang's image and its name in English spelling.

Liu Xiang's a href= "//www.sjfzxm.com/news/index_cj.asp" > trademark right /a < > highlights the challenges of brand building and the use of naming rights and trademarks in China.

The Chinese government has often been criticized for its ineffective implementation of intellectual property rights, but its domestic intellectual property law has a wide range of coverage, which may prevent sales of products made in China violating China's trademark law and patent protection provisions.

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Liu Xiang P has been marketing in China for many years. Liu Xiang won the gold medal in the 110 metre hurdles at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and levelled the world record of the project. He became a national hero and gained commercial attraction in China.

In many parts of China's subway stations, Liu Xiang has been posted with advertisements. Nike has also developed a series of costumes to celebrate Liu Xiang's achievements. The products are printed with the words "LX" and "LiuXiang", rather than Liu Xiang's two Chinese characters.

This summer, Nike launched a special Liu Xiang sneaker to boost sales of other products such as Nike LiuXiang running shirts.

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< p > up to now, Nike has not yet issued an official statement on the matter.

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