18,973 trademarks cases investigated and prosecuted in first half year

In the first half of 2007, the Administrations for Industry and Commerce at various levels in China investigated and prosecuted a total of 18,973 trademarks cases, including 15,458 domestic cases and 3,515 cases involving foreign parties. Of all the cases, 58 criminal cases have been transferred to judicial departments and 76 criminal suspects have been arrested.

From January to June 2007, a total of 14,296 cases have been put on file for investigation and prosecution, 12,142 cases involving trademark infringement or counterfeit registered trademarks.

In terms of regional distribution, more than 1000 trademark cases were investigated and prosecuted in each of the following provinces and city: Zhejiang Province (3199 cases), Henan Province (1437 cases), Hebei Province (1336 cases), Shandong Province (1270 cases), Guangdong Province (1265 cases), Fujian Province (1231 cases) and Shanghai (1104 cases).

The AICs also strengthened administrative protection for the Olympic symbols. From January to June 2007, a total of 142 cases involving the Olympic symbols were handled, including 33 cases of illegally using the Olympic symbols and 109 cases of infringement upon the Olympic symbols. In the cases, 18,046 infringing representations of the Olympic symbols were confiscated and removed, and 15 pieces of moulds and printing plates for manufacturing infringing products were confiscated.