20.02.2008
No Aomori Trademark Registration in China
The Chinese Trademark Office (CTMO) has refused the application for the trademark registration of “Aomori” (written in kanji characters) for fruit and several other categories of products.
The prefecture of Aomori is the northernmost prefecture on the Japanese island of Honshu and is famous for its agricultural products, apples in particular.
After learning that a Chinese company filed an application for the trademark Aomori in 2002, the Aomori prefectural government — together with 23 industrial groups of the prefecture — filed a complaint against it. The prefectural government was afraid that a registration of the trademark Aomori would lead to a ban of agricultural products from Aomori which, not only in Japan, are highly respected and recognized.
The CTMO refused the registration arguing that names of places which are commonly known in China cannot be registered as a trademark.
Source: Yomiuri Shimbun
