China's imperial Palace Museum vowed Tuesday to take legal
action to secure its intellectual rights involving the best-known
Palace Museum and Forbidden City as the two names have been awarded
"Name Brands of China."
Li Wenru, deputy curator of the Palace Museum, told a press
conference that as the sole owner of the two brand names, the
museum will use them across the spectrum, covering sightseeing and
tourism, artworks assessment, exhibitions and publishing.
"Palace Museum" and "Forbidden City" are exclusively referred to
in indicating the current site of the museum which served as an
imperial palace for the two Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911)
dynasties.
Between 1996 and 1998, the museum registered the two brand names
at the State Administration for Industry and Commerce covering 15
categories of commodities and services.
Nevertheless, many companies and individuals have tried to
register "Palace Museum" or "Forbidden City" as brand names for
their own use with 20 such applications being announced in 2004
alone.
The Museum has discovered over 100 kinds of commodities or
companies named after the imperial palace, including noodle vendors
and wedding ceremony services.
The State Administration for Industry and Commerce approved the
two trade marks as "name brands of China" in June this year. The
deputy curator said the Museum will now better be able protect its
rights in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2006)