Cookie time fights for China trademark
NZ company sees connection to Apple iPad ban.
Cookie Time is going into battle against a Chinese company that it claims is attempting to hijack its logo.
Late last year, the New Zealand company filed an opposition to the application by Qingdao Chengze Trade to register the Cookie Time logo in China. However, it has now been advised that it may take up to two years to hear the case. The Chinese company application to the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) uses identical artwork to the stylised Cookie Time logo.
The Chinese application is also blocking CTL’s own attempts to trademark its Cookie Time brand in China.
Cookie Time general manager Lincoln Booth said company is taking a hard line in defending its intellectual property, and the two year delay on hearing the case in China is a serious concern, especially given Apple’s current controversy over the iPad trademark in China, where a local company is seeking a ban on iPad imports and exports.
“The iPad issue in China definitely raises major flags for us. We’ve got some big growth plans and opportunities in play, and we will not tolerate other companies attempting to cash in our own brand equity or steal a march on us in offshore markets,” Mr Booth said.
NBR staff
Fri, 17 Feb 2012
Fri, 17 Feb 2012
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
Cookie time fights for China trademark
18913