Merck Loses Trademark Suit Against Tianjin Zhongxin Pharmaceutical Group
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Beijing Municipal Higher People's Court has rejected Merck's appeal to the Trademark Appeal Board under the State Administration for Industry and Commerce. It ruled that the registration of Tianjin Zhongxin Pharmaceutical Group's trademark logo should be approved. In 1998, Tianjin Zhongxin applied for its trademark logo registration, which Merck objected, claiming that the image was similar to its registered trademark in China and requested protection of the well-known logo. Insiders point out that the case reflects a major issue: the exhaustive policy of IP rights whereby ownership is secured only after completing all procedures, including trademark registration, administrative review and appeal of administrative proceeding. (Click here for more - Chinese Language)