China solicits public opinions on arbitration commission registration

09:43, September 13, 2019

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  Ne Zha distributor triggers debate on trademark registration

  The distributor of the film Ne Zha, Beijing Enlight Pictures, registered 1,818 trademarks related to the film from its release to Aug. 27. Some applications are pending substantive review.(Photo:China Daily)In recent years, other distributors of the hit Chinese animated films have also tried to register trademarks related to their films, but far less than Enlight Pictures.Are those vast number of registered trademarks legal? Is it malicious hoarding of trademarks?Enlight Pictures registered several trademarks for the same character name, covering different types of services. For example, "Madam Yin", an important character in Ne Zha, has registered nearly ten goods/services, including mesh fabric, insurance consulting, transportation, interior decoration and disinfection. These services all seem to have nothing to do with the business of Enlight Pictures.Zhanlin Zhao, deputy director of Chi Lam law firm in Beijing, said that the behavior of Enlight Pictures is defensive registration, which means the trademark may not be used by themselves, but they deter others from registering and use. However, we cant judge the registration as malicious yet, because of the lack of a clear standard.According to the Trademark Law of the Peoples Republic of China, if the Trademark Office defines Enlight Pictures trademark registration as a "malicious registration application" not related to the companys business, the application will be rejected.Enlights trademark registration may be attributed to the rampant piracy of derivatives for Ne Zha. It released a copyright statement for the film on July 31, saying that the market has been flooded with pirated goods, products and materials. The statement added that any unauthorized activity related to the development or investment of Ne Zhas derivatives is an infringement, and the infringing party should immediately stop their illegal behavior. Enlight Pictures will safeguard the legal ...

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  New EU Commission puts climate change as top priority

  The new European Commission that will take office in November is making climate change one of its very top priorities by Tuesday appointing a powerful Dutchman to run the portfolio.International superstar climate change activist Greta Thunberg sailed into North Cove Marina in Brookfield Place in lower Manhattan with a message for President Donald J. Trump: "Listen to the science." (Photo: VCG)Frans Timmermans, a 58-year-old Brussels veteran, will effectively be the number two in the incoming commission under Ursula von der Leyen, who has made cutting carbon emissions a key priority of her executive for the next five years.His elevation to first executive vice president for a "European Green Deal", with powers over investment, taxes and food standards as Europe transitions to clean energy, was welcomed by environmental groups."The structure presented by Commission President-elect von der Leyen shows that she is following through on her climate and environmental promises by giving the highest level of attention to delivering on a European Green Deal," the head of the European office for the WWF, Ester Asin, said.Von der Leyen told a news conference that Timmermans would be the pointman in making Europe "the worlds first climate-neutral continent".His stated mission, set out in a letter from von der Leyen, is to "look at everything from how we use and produce energy, unlock private investment and support new clean technologies, all the way through to the transport we use, the food we eat and the packaging we throw away".The decision places the 2016 Paris climate agreement at the heart of the EUs policy. That stands in sharp contrast with the United States, which is pulling out of the accord under President Donald Trump who is a climate-change sceptic.Von der Leyen reaffirmed the ambition for Europe to reach climate neutrality by 2050, but told Timmermans: "We have to be more ambitious when it comes ...

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  UN to deploy assessment mission to El Salvador to support anti-graft commission

  UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday decided to deploy an assessment mission to El Salvador as a first step to back its governments new anti-graft commission.The government of the Central American country has requested the United Nations support in establishing this international commission to fight impunity and corruption, to be known as CICIES for its initials in Spanish.Guterres press office announced his decision to "deploy an interdisciplinary technical assessment mission to that country in the coming days" after the UN chief met with El Salvadors Vice President Felix Ulloa on Thursday.Neighboring Guatemala and Honduras have already had such commissions. However, the UN-sponsored commission in Guatemala shut down earlier this month after Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales refused to renew its mandate, which ended on Sept. 3.(Photo: VCG)Before its closure, the commission in Guatemala had been investigating into Moraless campaign financing and his brothers and sons alleged tax fraud.