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กก Trademark Law of the People's Republic of China (Adopted
at the 24th Session of the Standing Committee of the Fifth National
People's Congress on 23 August 1982, revised for the first time according
to the Decision on the Amendment of the Trademark Law of the People's
Republic of China adopted at the 30th Session of the Standing
Committee of the Seventh National People's Congress, on 22 February 1993,
and revised for the second time according to the Decision on the Amendment
of the Trademark Law of the People's Republic of China adopted at the 24th
Session of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress
on 27 October 2001.) Chapter
l General Provisions Article
1 This Law is
enacted for the purposes of improving the administration of trademarks,
protecting the exclusive right to use trademarks, and of encouraging
producers and operators to guarantee the quality of their goods and
services and maintaining the reputation of their trademarks, with a view
to protecting the interests of consumers, producers and operators and to
promoting the development of the socialist market economy. Article
2 The Trademark
Office of the administrative authority for industry and commerce under the
State Council shall be responsible for the registration and administration
of trademarks throughout the country. The
Trademark Review and Adjudication Board, established under the
administrative authority for industry and commerce under the State
Council, shall be responsible for handling matters of trademark disputes. Article
3 Registered
trademarks mean trademarks that have been approved and registered by the
Trademark Office, including trademarks, service marks, collective marks
and certification marks; the trademark registrants shall enjoy the
exclusive right to use the trademarks, and be protected by law. Said
collective marks mean sings which are registered in the name of bodies,
associations or other organizations to be used by the members thereof in
their commercial activities to indicate their membership of the
organizations. Said
certification marks mean signs which are controlled by organizations
capable of supervising some goods or services and used by entities or
individual persons outside the organization for their goods or services to
certify the origin, material, mode of manufacture, quality or other
characteristics of the goods or services. Regulations
for the particular matters of registration and administration of
collective and certification marks shall be established by the
administrative authority for industry and commerce under the State
Council. Article
4 Any natural
person, legal entity or other organization intending to acquire the
exclusive right to use a trademark for the goods produced, manufactured,
processed, selected or marketed by it or him, shall file an application
for the registration of the trademark with the Trademark Office. Any
natural person, legal entity or other organization intending to acquire
the exclusive right to use a service mark for the service provided by it
or him, shall file an application for the registration of the service mark
with the Trademark Office. The
provisions set forth in this Law concerning trademarks shall apply to
service marks. Article
5 Two or more
natural persons, legal entities or other organizations may jointly file an
application for the registration for the same trademark with the Trademark
Office, and jointly enjoy and exercise the exclusive right to use the
trademark. Article
6 As for any of
such goods, as prescribed by the State, that must bear a registered
trademark, a trademark registration must be applied for. Where no
trademark registration has been granted, such goods cannot be marketed. Article
7 Any user of a
trademark shall be responsible for the quality of the goods in respect of
which the trademark is used. The administrative authorities for industry
and commerce at different levels shall, through the administration of
trademarks, stop any practice that deceives consumers. Article
8 In respect of
any visual sign capable of distinguishing the goods or service of one
natural person, legal entity or any other organization from that of
others, including any word, design, letters of an alphabet, numerals,
three-dimensional symbol, combinations of Colours,
and their combination, an application may be filed for registration. Article
9 Any trademark in
respect of which an application for registration is filed shall be so
distinctive as to be distinguishable, and shall not conflict with any
prior right acquired by another person. A
trademark registrant has the right to use the words of "registered
trademark" or a symbol to indicate that his trademark is registered. Article
10 The following
signs shall not be used as trademarks: (1)
those identical with or similar to the State name, national flag, national
emblem, military flag, or decorations, of the People's Republic of China,
with names of the places where the Central and State organs are located,
or with the names and designs of landmark buildings; (2)
those identical with or similar to the State names, national flags,
national emblems or military flags of foreign countries, except that the
foreign state government agrees otherwise on the use; (3)
those identical with or similar to the names, flags or emblems or names,
of international intergovernmentaI organizations, except that the
organizations agree otherwise on the use or that it is not easy for the
use to mislead the public; (4)
those identical with or similar to official signs and hallmarks, showing
official control or warranty by them, except that the use thereof is
otherwise authorized; (5)
those identical with or simi1ar to the symbols, or names, of the Red Cross
or the Red Crescent; (6)
those having the nature of discrimination against any nationality; (7)
those having the nature of exaggeration and fraud in advertising goods;
and (8)
those detrimental to socialist morals or customs, or having other
unhealthy influences. The
geographical names as the administrative divisions at or above the county
level and the foreign geographical names well known to the public shall
not be used as trademarks, but such geographical terms as have otherwise
meanings or are a part of collective marks/or a certification marks shall
be exclusive. Where a trademark using any of the above-mentioned
geographical names has been approved and registered, it shall continue to
be valid. Article
11 The following
signs shall not be registered as trademarks: (1)
those only comprising generic names, designs or models of the goods in
respect of which the trademarks are used; - (2)
those having direct reference to the quality, main raw materials,
function, use, weight, quantity or other features of the goods in respect
of which the trademarks are used; and (3)
those lacking distinctive features. The
signs under the preceding paragraphs may be registered as trademarks where
they have acquired the distinctive features through use and become readily
identifiable. Article
12 Where an
application is filed for registration of a three-dimensional sign as a
trademark, any shape derived from the goods itself, required for obtaining
the technical effect, or giving the goods substantive value, shall not be
registered. Article
13 Where a
trademark in respect of which the application for registration is filed
for use for identical or similar goods is a reproduction, imitation or
translation of another person's trademark not registered in China and
likely to cause confusion, it shall be rejected for registration and
prohibited from use. Where
a trademark in respect of which the application for registration is filed
fdr use for non-identical or dissimilar goods is a reproduction, imitation
or translation of the well-known mark of another person that has been
registered in China, misleads the pub1ic and is likely to create prejudice
to the interests of the well-known mark registrant, it shall be rejected
for registration and prohibited from use. Article
14 Account shall
be taken of the fol1owing factors in establishment of a well-known mark: (l)
reputation of the mark to the relevant public; (2)
time for continued use of the mark; (3)
consecutive time, extent and geographical area of advertisement of the
mark; (4)
records of protection of the mark as a well-known mark; and (5)
any other factors relevant to the reputation of the mark. Article
15 Where any agent
or representative registers, in its or his own name, the trademark of a
person for whom it or he acts as the agent or representative without
authorization therefrom, and the latter raises opposition, the trademark
shall be rejected for registration and prohibited from use. Article
16 Where a
trademark contains a geographic indication of the goods in respect of
which the trademark is used, the goods is not from the region indicated
therein and it misleads the public, it shall be rejected for registration
and prohibited from use; however, any trademark that has been registered
in good faith shall remain valid. The
geographic indications mentioned in the preceding paragraph refer to the
signs that signify the place of origin of the goods in respect of which
the signs are used, their specific quality, reputation or other features
as mainly decided by the natural or cultural factors of the regions. Article
17 Any foreign
person or foreign enterprise intending to apply for the registration of a
trademark in China shall file an application in accordance with any
agreement concluded between the People's Republic of China and the country
to which the applicant belongs, or according to the international treaty
to which both countries are parties, or on the basis of the principles of
reciprocity. Article
18 Any foreign
person or foreign enterprise intending to apply for the registration of a
trademark or for any other matters conceming a trademark in China sha1l
appoint any of such organizations as designated by the State to act as its
or his agent. Chapter
II AppIication for Trademark Registration Article
19 An applicant
for the registration of a trademark shall, in a form, indicate, in
accordance with the prescribed classification of goods, the class of the
goods and the designation of the goods in respect of which the trademark
is to be used. Article
20 Where any
applicant for registration of a trademark intends to use the same
trademark for goods in different classes, an application for registration
shall be filed in respect of each class of the prescribed classification
of goods. Article
21 Where a
registered trademark is to be used in respect of other goods of the same
class, a new application for registration shall be filed. Article
22 Where the sign
of a registered trademark is to be altered, a new registration shall be
applied for. Article
23 Where, after
the registration of a trademark, the name, address or other registered
matters concerning the registrant change, an application regarding the
change shall be filed. Article
24 Any aPp1icant
for the registration of a trademark who files an application for
registration of the same trademark for identica1 goods in China within six
months from the date of filing the first application for the trademark
registration overseas may enjoy the right of priority in accordance with
any agreement concluded between the People's Republic of China and the
country to which the applicant belongs, or according to the international
treaty to which both countries are parties, or on the basis of the
principle whereby each acknowledges the right of priority of the other. Anyone
claiming the right of priority according to the preceding paragraph shall
make a statement in writing when it or he files the application for the
trademark registration, and submit, within three months, a copy of the
application documents it or he first filed for the registration of the
trademark; where the applicant fails to make the claim in writing or
submit the copy of the application documents within the time limit, the
claim shall be deemed not to have been made for the right of priority. Article
25 Where a
trademark is first used for goods in an international exhibition on
sponsored or recognized by me Chinese Government, the applicant for the
registration of the trademark may enjoy the right of priority within six
months from the date of exhibition of the goods. Anyone
claiming the right of priority according to the preceding paragraph shall
make a claim in writing when it or he files the application for the
registration of the trademark, and submit, within three months, documents
showing the title of the exhibition in which its or his goods was
displayed, proof that the trademark was used for the goods exhibited, and
the date of exhibition; where the claim is not made in writing, or the
proof documents not submitted within the time limit, the claim shall be
deemed not to have been made for the right of priority. Article
26 The matters
reported and materials submitted in the application for trademark
registration shall be true, accurate and complete. Chapter
lII Examination for and ApprovaI of Trademark Registration Article
27 Where a
trademark the registration of which has been applied for is in conformity
with the relevant provisions of this Law, the Trademark Office shall,
after examination, preliminarily approve the trademark and publish it. Article
28 Where a
trademark the registration of which has been applied for is not in
conformity with the relevant provisions of this Law, or it is identical
with or similar to the trademark of another person that has, in respect of
the same or similar goods, been registered or, after examination,
preliminarily approved, the Trademark Office shall refuse the application
and shall not publish the said trademark. Article
29 Where two or
more applicants apply for the registration of identical or similar
trademarks for the same or similar goods, the preliminary aPproval, after
examination, and the publication shall be made for the trademark which was
first filed. Where applications are filed on the same day, the preliminary
approval, after examination, and the publication shall be made for the
trademark which was the earliest used, and the applications of the others
shall be refused and their trademarks shall not be published. Article
30 Any person may,
within three months from the date of the publication, file an opposition
against the trademark that has, after examination, been preliminarily
approved. If no opposition has been filed after the expiration of the time
limit from the publication, the registration shall be approved, a
certificate of trademark registration shall be issued and the trademark
shall be published. Article
31 An application
for the registration of a trademark shall not create any prejudice to the
prior right of another person, nor unfair means be used to pre-emptively
register the trademark of some reputation another person has used. Article
32 Where the
application for registration of a trademark is refused and no publication
of the trademark is made, the Trademark Office shall notify the applicant
of the same in writing. Where the applicant is dissatisfied, he may,
within fifteen days from receipt of the notice, file an application with
the Trademark Review and Adjudication Board for a review. The Trademark
Review and Adjudication Board shall make a decision and notify 'the
applicant in writing. Any
interested party who is not satisfied with the decision made by the
Trademark Review and Adjudication Board may, within thirty days from
receipt of the notice, institute legal proceedings in the People's Court. Article
33 Where an
opposition is filed against the trademark that has, after examination,
been preliminarily approved and published, the Trademark Office shall hear
both the opponent and applicant state facts and grounds, and shall, after
investigation and verification, make a decision. Where any party is
dissatisfied, it or he may within fifteen days from receipt of the
notification, apply for a reexamination, and the Trademark Review and
Adjudication Board shall make a decision and notify both the opponent and
applicant in writing. Any
interested party who is not satisfied with the decision made by the
Trademark Review and Adjudication Board within thirty days from the date
of receipt of the notice, may institute legal proceedings in the People's
Court. The People's Court shall notify the other party to the trademark
reexamination proceeding to be a third party to the litigation. Article
34 Where the
interested party does not, within the statutory time limit, apply for the
reexamination of the adjudication by the Trademark Office or does not
institute legal proceedings in respect of the ad judication by the
Trademark Review and Ad judication Board, the adjudication takes effect. Where
the opposition cannot be established upon ad judication, the registration
shall be approved, a certificate of trademark registration shall be issued
and the trademark shall be published; where the opposition is established
upon adjudication, the registration shall not be approved. Where
the opposition cannot be established upon ad judication, but the
registration is approved, the time of the exclusive right the trademark
registration applicant has obtained to use the trademark is counted from
the date on which the three months expires from the publication of the
preliminary examination. Article
35 Any application
for trademark registration and trademark reexamination shall be examined
in due course. Article
36 Where any
trademark registration applicant or registrant finds any obvious errors in
the trademark registration documents or application documents, it or he
may apply for correction thereof The Trademark Office shall ex officio
make the correction according to law and notify the interested party of
the correction. The
error correction mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall not relate to
the substance of the trademark registration documents or application
documents. Chapter
IV RenewaI, Assignment and Licensing of Registered Trademarks Article
37 The period of
validity of a registered trademark shall be ten years, counted from the
date of approval of the registration. Article
38 Where the
registrant intends to continue to use the registered trademark beyond the
expiration of the period of validity, an application for renewal of the
registration shall be made within six months before the said expiration.
Where no application therefore has been filed within the said period, a
grace period of six months may be allowed. If no application has been
filed at the expiration the grace period, the registered trademark shall
be cancelled. The
period of validity of each renewal of registration shaIl be ten years. Any
renewa1 of registration shall be published after it as been approved. Article
39 Where a
registered trademark is assigned, the assignor and assignee shall conclude
a contract for the assignment, and jointly file an application with the
trademark Office. The assignee shall guarantee the quality of the goods in
respect of which the registered trademark is used. The
assignment of a registered trademark shall be published after it has been
approved, and the assignee enjoys the exclusive right to use the trademark
from the date of publication. Article
40 Any trademark
registrant may, by signing a trademark license contf8ct, authorize other
persons to use his registered trademark. The licensor shall supervise the
quality of the goods in respect of which the licensee uses his registered
trademark, and the licensee shall guarantee the quality of the goods in
respect of which the registered Trademark is used. Where
any party is authorized to use a registered trademark of another person,
the name of the licensee and the origin of the goods must be indicated on
the goods that bear the registered trademark. The
trademark license contract shall be submitted to the Trademark Office for
record. Chapter V Adjudication of Disputes Concerning Registered
Trademarks Article
41 Where a
registered trademark stands in violation of the provisions of Articles 10,
11 and 12 of this Law, or the registration of a trademark was acquired by
fraud or any other unfair means, the Trademark Office shall cancel the
registered trademark in question; and any other organization or individual
may request the Trademark Review and Ad judication Board to make an
adjudication to cancel such a registered trademark. Where
a registered trademark stands in violation of the provisions of Articles
l3, l5, l6 and 3l of this Law, any other trademark owner concerned or
interested party may, within five years from the date of the registration
of the trademark, file a request with the Trademark Review and
Adjudication Board for adjudication to cancel the registered trademark.
Where a well-known mark is registered in bad faith, the genuine owner
thereof shall not be restricted by the five-year limitation. In
addition to those cases as provided for in the preceding two paragraphs,
any person disputing a registered trademark may, within five years from
the date of approval of the trademark registration, apply to the Trademark
Review and Adjudication Board for adjudication. The
Trademark Review and Adjudication Board shall, after receipt of the
application for adjudication, notify the interested parties and request
them to respond with arguments within a specified period. Article
42 Where a
trademark, before its being approved for registration, has been the object
of opposition and decision, no application for adjudication may be filed
based on the same facts and grounds. Article
43 After the
Trademark Review and Adjudication Board has made an adjudication either to
maintain or to cancel a registered trademark, it shall notify the
interested parties of the same in writing. Any
interested party who is dissatisfied with the adjudication made by the
Trademark Review and Adjudication Board may, within thirty days from the
date of receipt of the notice, institute legal proceedings in the People's
Court. The People's Court shall notify the other party of the trademark
adjudication proceeding to be a third party to the legal proceedings. Chapter
Vl Administration of the Use of Trademarks Article
44 Where any
person who uses a registered trademark has committed any of the following,
the Trademark Office shall order him to rectify the situation within a
specified period or even cancel the registered trademark: (1)
where a registered trademark is altered unilaterally (that is, without the
required registration); (2)
where the name, address or other registered matters concerning the
registrant of a registered trademark are changed unilaterally (that is,
without the required application ), (3)
where the registered trademark is assigned unilaterally (that is, without
the required approval); or (4)
where the use of the registered trademark has ceased for three consecutive
years. Article
45 Where a
registered trademark is used in respect of the goods that have been
roughly or poorly manufactured, or whose superior quality has been
replaced by inferior quality, so that consumers are deceived, the
administrative authorities for industry and commerce at different levels
shall, according to the circumstances, order rectification of the
situation within a specified period, and may, in addition, circulate a
notice of criticism or impose a fine, and the Trademark Office may even
cancel the registered trademark. Article
46 Where a
registered trademark has been cancelled or has not been renewed at the
expiration, the Trademark Office shall, during one year from the date of
the cancellation or removal thereof, approve no application for the
registration of a trademark that is identical with or similar to the said
trademark. Article
47 Where any
person violates the provisions of Article 6 of this Law, the local
administrative authority for industry and commerce shall order him to file
an application for the registration within a specified period, and may, in
addition, impose a fine. Article
48 Where any
person who uses an unregistered trademark has committed any of the
following, the local administrative authority for industry and commerce
shall stop the use of the trademark, order him to rectify the situation
within a specified period, and may, in addition, circulate a notice of
criticism or impose a fine: (1)
where the trademark is falsely represented as registered; (2)
where any provision of Article 10 of this Law is violated; or (3)
where the manufacture is of rough or poor quality, or where superior
quality is replaced by inferior quality, so that 'consumers are deceived. Article
49 Any party
dissatisfied with the decision of the Trademark Office to cancel a
registered trademark may, within fifteen days from receipt of the
corresponding notice, apply for a review. The Trademark Review and
Adjudication Board shall make a decision and notify the applicant in
writing. Any
interested party dissatisfied with the decision by the Trademark Review
and Adjudication Board may, within thirty days from the date of receipt of
the notice, institute legal proceedings in the People's Court. Article
50 Any party
dissatisfied with the decision of the administrative authority for
industry and commerce to impose a fine under the provisions of Article 45,
Article 47 or Article 48 may, within fifteen days from receipt of the
corresponding notice, institute legal proceedings with the People's Court.
If there have been instituted no legal proceedings or made no performance
of the decision at the expiration of the said period, the administrative
authority for industry and commerce may request the People's Court for
compulsory execution thereof. Chapter
VlI Protection of the ExcIusive Rights to Use Registered Trademarks Article
51 The exclusive
right to use a registered trademark is limited to the trademark which has
been approved for registration and to the goods in respect of which the
use of the trademark has been approved. Article
52 Any of the
following acts shall be an infringement of the exclusive right to use a
registered trademark: (1)
to use a trademark that is identical with or similar to a registered
trademark in respect of the identical or similar goods without the
authorization from the trademark registrant; (2)
to sell goods that he knows bear a counterfeited registered trademark; (3)
to counterfeit, or to make, without authorization, representations of a
registered trademark of another person, or to sell such representations of
a registered trademark as were
counterfeited, or made without authorization; (4)
to replace, without the consent of the trademark registrant, its or his
registered trademark and market again the goods bearing the replaced
trademark; or (5)
to cause, in other respects, prejudice to the exclusive right of another
person to use a registered trademark. Article
53 Where any party
has committed any of such acts to infringe the exclusive right to use a
registered trademark as provided for in Article 52 of this Law and has
caused a dispute, the interested parties shall resolve the dispute through
consultation; where they are reluctant to resolve the matter through
consultation or the consultation fails, the trademark registrant or
interested party may institute legal proceedings in the People's Court or
request the administrative authority for industry and commerce for
actions. Where it is established that the infringing act is constituted in
its handling the matter, the administrative authority for industry and
commerce handling the matter shall order the infringer to immediately stop
the infringing act, confiscate and destroy the infringing goods and tools
specially used for the manufacture of the infringing goods and for
counterfeiting the representations of the registered trademark, and impose
a fine. Where any interested party is dissatisfied with decision on
handling the matter, it or he may, within fifteen days from the date of
receipt of the notice, institute legal proceedings in the People's Court according
to the Administrative Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China. If
there have been instituted no legal proceedings or made on performance of
the decision at the expiration of the said period, the administrative
authority for industry and commerce shall request the People's Court for
compulsory execution thereof. The administrative authority for industry
and commerce handling the matter may, upon the request of the interested
party, medicate on the amount of compensation for the infringement of the
exclusive right to use the trademark; where the medication fails, the
interested party may institute legal proceedings in the People's Court
according to the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China. Article
54 The
administrative authority for industry and commerce has the power to
investigate and handle any act of infringement of the exclusive right to
use a registered trademark according to law; where the case is so serious
as to constitute a crime, it shall be transferred to the judicial
authority for handling. Article
55 When
investigating and handling an act suspected of infringement of a
registered trademark, the administrative authority for industry and
commerce at or above the county level may, according to the obtained
evidence of the suspected violation of law or informed offence, exercise
the following functions and authorities: (1 )
to inquire of the interested parties involved, and to investigate the
relevant events of the infringement of the exclusive right to use the
trademark; (2)
to read and make copy of the contract, receipts, account books and other
relevant materials of the interested parties relating to the infringement; (3)
to inspect the site where the interested party committed the alleged
infringement of the exclusive right to use the trademark; and (4)
to inspect any articles relevant to the infringement; any articles that
prove to have been used for the infringement of another person's exclusive
right to use the trademark may be sealed up or seized. When
the administrative authority for industry and commerce exercises the
preceding functions and authorities, the interested party shall cooperate
and help, and shall not refuse to do so or stand in the way. Article
56 The amount of
damages shall be the profit that the infringer has earned because of the
infringement in the period of the infringement or the injury that the
infringee has suffered from the infringement in the period of the
infringement, including the appropriate expenses of the infringee for
stopping the infringement. Where
it is difficult to determine the profit that the infringer has earned
because of the infringement in the period of the infringement or the
injury that the infringee has suffered from the infringement in the period
of the infringement, the People's Court shall impose an amount of damages
of no more than RMB 500, 000 yuan according to the circumstances of the
infringement. Anyone
who sells a goods that it or he does not know has infringed the exclusive
right to use a registered trademark, and is able to prove that it or he
has obtained the goods legitimately and indicates the supplier thereof
shall not bear the liability for damages. Article
57 Where a
trademark registrant or interested party who has evidence to show that
another person is committing or will commit an infringement of the right
to use its or his registered trademark, and that failure to promptly stop
the infringement will cause irreparable damages to its or his legitimate
rights and interests, it or he may file an application with the People's
Court to order cessation of the relevant act and to take measures for
property preservation before instituting legal proceedings in the People's
Court. The
People's Court handling the application under the preceding paragraph
shall apply the provisions of Articles 93 to 96 and 99 of the Civil
Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China. Article
58 In order to
stop an infringing act, any trademark registrant or interested party may
file an application with the People's Court for preservation of the
evidence before instituting legal proceedings in the People's Court where
the evidence will possibly be destroyed or lost or difficult to be
obtained again in the future. The People's Court must make adjudication
within forty-eight hours after receipt of the application; where it is
decided to take the preservative measures, the measures shall be executed
immediately. The People's Court may order the applicant to place guaranty;
where the applicant fails to place the guaranty, the application shall be
rejected. Where
the applicant institutes no legal proceedings within fifteen days after
the People's Court takes the preservative measures, the People's Court
shall release the measures taken for the preservation. Article
59 Where any party
uses, without the authorization from the trademark registrant, a trademark
identical with a registered trademark, and the case is so serious as to
constitute a crime, he shall be prosecuted, according to law, for his
criminal liabilities in addition to his compensation for the damages
suffered by the infringee. Where
any party counterfeits, or makes, without authorization, representations
of a registered trademark of another person, or sells such representations
of a registered trademark as were counterfeited, or made without
authorization, and the case is so serious as to constitute a crime, he
shall be prosecuted, according to law, for his criminal liabilities in
addition to his compensation for the damages suffered by the infringee. Where
any party sells goods that he knows bear a counterfeited registered
trademark, and the case is so serious as to constitute a crime, he shall
be prosecuted, according to law, for his criminal liabilities in addition
to his compensation for the damages suffered by the infringee. Article
60 The State
functionaries for the registration, administration and reexamination of
trademarks must handle cases according to law, be incorruptible and
disciplined, devoted to their duties and courteous and honest in their
provision of service. The
State functionaries of the Trademark Office and the Trademark Review and
Adjudication Board and those working for the registration, administration
and reexamination of trademarks shall not practice as trademark agent and
engage in any activity to manufacture and market goods. Article
61 The
administrative authority for industry and commerce shall establish and
amplify its internal supervision system to supervise and inspect the State
functionaries for the registration, administration and reexamination of
trademarks in their implementation of the laws and administrative
regulations and in their observation of the discipline. Article
62 Where any State
functionary for the registration, administration and reexamination of
trademarks neglects his duty, abuses his power, engages in malpractice for
personal gain, handles the registration, administration and reexamination
of trademarks in violation of law, accepts money or material wealth from
any interested party or seeks illicit interest, which constitutes a crime,
he or she shall be prosecuted for his or her criminal liabi1ity. If the
case is not serious enough to constitute a crime, he or she shall be given
disciplinary sanction according to law. Chapter
VIII Supplementary Provisions Article
63 Any application
for a trademark registration and for other matters concerning a trademark
shall be subject to payment of the fees as prescribed. The schedule of
fees shall be prescribed separately. ArticIe
64 This Law shall
enter into force on March l, l983. The "Regulations Governing
Trademarks" promulgated by the State Council on April l0, l963 shall
be abrogated on the same date, and any other provisions concerning
trademarks contrary to this Law shall cease to be effective at the same
time. Trademarks
registered before this Law enters into force shall continue to be valid. กก |
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