During the press conference, director general of CTMO, Mr. An
Qinghu, made a brief introduction outlining the introduction of
China's trademark registration and administration, and announced
that CTMO would begin to allow online search of trademark
registration information for the public for the first time. This
will basically mean from December 26, 2005, anybody can search
relevant trademark registration information via the "China
Trademark Website." (http://www.ctmo.gov.cn or http://sbj.saic.gov.cn )
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It is said that the trademark information available for search
provided on the website includes information concerning both
registered trademarks and trademark applications.
There are three types of information search available on the
website:
1.?Searching of identical or similar trademarks:
Search of identical or similar trademarks refers to a search which
is to find out whether the applicant's trademark 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.
2.?Searching of general trademark information.
Search of general trademark information refers to the search to
find out the information related to a trademark whose registration
number (or application number), the name of applicant (or trademark
owner) or trademark characters are already known.
3.?Searching of trademark application status.
Search of trademark application status is to find out the present
status of a trademark application in the workflow in accordance
with application number or registration number.
There are three major features in respect of online search of
trademark registration information: firstly, users are free to
search on line; secondly, the pre-application search provided to
the public is basically similar to that used by trademark examiners
at CTMO; and finally, the trademark search database will be updated
once a week.
He also points out that opening trademark online search to the
public means China's trademark automation, openness of government
affairs and social service have reached a higher level, which will
no doubt contribute greatly to search of trademark information by
the public, protecting exclusive rights to use a registered
trademark and generally enhancing society's trademark
awareness.
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Mr. An Qinghu also stresses that after the start of the online
search of trademark registration information service, CTMO will
make every effort to provide trademark information which is as
accurate as possible, and will keep on updating the information in
the trademark search database. If incorrect information is found
during a search, the public can submit correction advice through an
"Error Report" on the website, and CTMO will correct the relevant
information as soon as possible after verification.
An Qinghu said, "China Trademark Website" is the only website
for online search of trademark registration run by the State
Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC). In order to visit
the online search function of the trademark registration
information system, simply log onto the? "China Trademark
Website," then click on "Trademark Search."
Yesterday's figures show the site has already recorded over 150
million hits, 2.67 million of which were from the US, Japan, EU and
other foreign countries. An Qinghu speculated that this number
could reach 200 million in the near future, after the trademark
registration information search system is available to domestic and
foreign applicants or their agencies; the general public, experts
and scholars who have interests in trademarking and the judicial
staff from authorities such as customs.
(CMTO, China.org.cn December 27, 2005)