5-12 June 2010, Spain and Germany

With the support of IPR2, 6 officials from the State Administration of Industry and Commerce (SAIC) went on a study tour to Spain, Luxembourg and Germany, to build knowledge on the European trademark system and support an exchange of expertise between Chinese and European officials and judges on emerging trademark registration and judicial review issues. The visit informed China’s decision makers and leaders on trademark registration and protection trends in Europe; and helped to build the technical capacity of all institutions involved handling trademark cases. Tin particular, the detailed exchanges served to review the latest trends in the different policy and production areas of SAIC and the Office for Harmonisation for the Internal Market (OHIM), Europe’s trademark and design office.

The study tour, led by Ms Zhang Huan, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation of SAIC and delegates from the International Registration Division of the Trademark Office of SAIC, the 2nd Review Division of the Trademark Review Board of SAIC, the Anti-Monopoly Enforcement Division, the Enforcement Bureau of Anti-Monopoly and Anti-Unfair Competition of SAIC and the Agency Branch of the China Trademark Association; provided an in-depth exchange of information and experiences on the European system for trademark registration and judicial review of trademark administrative adjudication; including information on the status quo as well as new issues arising from latest trends of development under the European legal system, judicial review of decisions by OHIM, and topics of particular interest to China. The delegation met with European courts in Luxembourg and trademark authorities in Spain and Germany to learn more about the respective national systems.

In the same week, IPR2, together with SAIC, organised two one-day seminars in Madrid and Munich on China's trademark system. The seminars also addressed SAIC’s management of the system, including business tools, performance and statistical information as well as quality and customer care. Read more.

IPR2 has supported a comparative study of trademark registration practices and systems in China as managed by SAIC and the Community Trade Mark (CTM) system in Europe as implemented by OHIM. The main goal of the comparative study was to identify areas for improvement of the performance and management of the administration and registration procedures relating to trademarks. It was completed in late 2009 and key findings included a detailed exchange on new issues that this study tour will now build on. Read more.

SAIC is the ministerial authority in charge of market supervision/regulation and related law enforcement. The main areas of activity include trademark exclusive rights protection, fair competition maintenance, consumers' rights and interests' protection and enterprises' registration. SAIC operates directly under the State Council of the PRC. 

State Administration for Industry & Commerce (SAIC)

Office for Harmonisation of the Internal Market (OHIM) 

For more information on the protection of trademarks, contact Mr Andreas Obst This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For general information on IPR2, contact Ms Tamryn Barker This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

[IPR2 ref: CC6.AW3.002]