Asian Legal Business, Reuters released the list of 2021 ALB China Intellectual Property Rankings on 24 May, 2021. 

On 17 May, 2021, China Business Law Journal released the list of China Business Law Awards 2021. Twelve Tables Law Firm has been recognized as the winner in following two categories: Notable achievers and IP (Patent). This is the second time that Twelve Tables Law Firm has been recognized as one the winners by China Business Law Journal.

Fashion designs are difficult to protect. Usually, aspects of product design do not qualify for protection under copyright law or trademark law, while design patents are difficult and expensive to obtain. Even if copyright protection is available, it could be difficult to enforce. When facing an infringer selling knockoffs copying hundreds of original designs of one company, it is time-and-cost-consuming for that company to file hundreds of separate copyright infringement lawsuits against that infringer.

On 26 March 2021, the China National Intellectual Property Administration ("CNIPA") issued a 97-page long research report and draft guideline on "Electronic Evidence Guidance in Trademark Review and Adjudication Cases" ("the Guidance"), aiming to ease burden of proof and unify examination standard on electronic evidence in trademark review and adjudication cases.

March 24, 2021, China National Intellectual Property Administration(“CNIPA”) issued a nationwide special action plan to crack down bad faith and preemptive trademark filings. According to the action plan, CNIPA will conduct a special operation from March 2021 to December 2021 to crack down on the bad faith and preemptive trademark filings, to enhance the quality of trademark filings, address social concerns over this issue, and help create a better environment for innovation and business.

在常见的商标侵权案件中，被控侵权商标一般未注册，或是申请中的商标、异议中的商标。一旦相对方将涉嫌侵权的商标成功注册了，权利人往往选择先就对方的注册商标提起无效或撤销程序。但有时行政程序结果不理想、或耗时太长，在这种情况下，权利人可考虑直接提起民事侵权诉讼，要求停止使用并主张损害赔偿，以民事程序的有利结果来引导行政程序最终的妥善解决。 本文结合双方之间权利冲突的不同类型，尤其是针对注册超过5年的注册商标能否提起侵权诉讼，主张停用并请求损害赔偿，以及此类案件中往往发生的民事行政程序交叉进行分析，并提出相应的建议。

The court decision in BRITA GMBH v. a Shanghai company [case no. (2017) hu 0112 minchu 26614)] issued by a Shanghai district court in September 2020, is the first civil decision in China where the defendant was found unfair competition by filing bad faith trademark applications, oppositions, and invalidations against the plaintiff.

When ones own brand is preemptively registered by another person, or when one"s well-designed trademark is identical to a prior registered trademark, there are usually two ways of dealing with the problem. The regular remedy is nothing more than actively filing an opposition, invalidation, or withdrawal request to remove the applying barrier or conservatively modifying the original design. However, it can be difficult, costly, and time-consuming to cancel a bad-faith registration. The unconventional measures include short and simple measures such as buying the other party"s registered trademark, buying the other party"s company, etc. The "buy-it-all" strategy is a quick fix for superficial problems and is popular with the rich and powerful.

February 16, 2021, World Trademark Review ( “WTR”) published 2021 edition of world leading trademark professional rankings. Hairuo was named as a “leading trademark professional” by the 2021 edition World Trademark Review in the category of enforcement and litigation, for the fourth year in a row.

近日，北京市高级人民法院在“HeyJuice”商标无效宣告请求案件二审中，作出了撤销一审判决、驳回杭州奇异鸟饮品科技连锁有限公司（以下简称奇异鸟公司）诉讼请求的判决结果，北京和聚网络科技有限公司（以下简称和聚公司）在第32类果汁等商品上的HeyJuice核心商标注册得以维持。