HR Paint Selected as China's Well-Known Trademark: HR Coatings' Rights Protection Efforts Yield Results
"China's Well-Known Trademark" refers to trademarks recognized by the state for their high level of fame and reputation. Compared with ordinary trademarks, the scope of legal protection is broader and more powerful. On April 25th, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce announced a list of newly recognized well-known trademarks. Among them, Guangdong HR Coatings Co., Ltd., a leading enterprise in the coatings industry that has been deeply troubled by "brand imitation," was also included. The trademark "HR Paint Huarun and Logo" was officially recognized as a well-known trademark. Fang Xin, Vice General Manager of HR Coatings Group, stated that after being selected as "China's Well-Known Trademark," HR Coatings will receive more legal support in protecting its brand and intellectual property rights.
It is understood that international protection of well-known trademarks began after the signing of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property in 1925 among European and American countries. The purpose of protecting well-known trademarks is to safeguard the legitimate interests of brands with high added value from infringement, protect the legitimate rights and interests of trademark owners, improve the intellectual property protection system, encourage independent innovation, optimize the innovation environment, maintain market competition order, and promote the rapid and sustainable development of the economy and society. Since joining the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property in 1985, China has started to fulfill its obligation to protect well-known trademarks. The revised Trademark Law in 2001 and the subsequently issued Implementing Regulations of the Trademark Law provided clear legal basis for the recognition and protection of well-known trademarks.
Experts pointed out that enterprises recognized as "well-known trademarks" are relatively stronger in technology, quality, and brand strength within their industries, and have good reputations, consumer appeal, and strong market competitiveness. Therefore, these enterprises are most easily imitated and infringed upon by illegal manufacturers. Taking HR Coatings as an example, in March this year, HR Coatings launched a nationwide campaign against "brand imitation." The legal department of HR Coatings Group went to various provinces and cities such as Beijing, Jiangsu, Fujian, Sichuan, Yunnan, Hubei, and Jiangxi to cooperate with local industrial and commercial departments in anti-counterfeiting and rights protection actions. As of March 16, 2009, the industrial and commercial departments across the country had seized more than 2,500 pieces of counterfeit HR coatings infringing products, involving over ten types of suspected infringing counterfeit products, with a case amount exceeding 300,000 yuan.
Fang Xin said: "In recent years, as HR Coatings' products have become better and the enterprise has grown larger, we have also felt increasing resistance to our development. We need to develop new technologies and products while also fighting against counterfeit and substandard products to clean up the market environment. These issues have somewhat diverted the company's attention and greatly damaged the company's economic interests and brand image. More seriously, counterfeit coating products pose a serious threat to consumers' lives and property safety."
It is understood that HR Coatings was established in 1991. With its commitment to quality and credibility, Guangdong HR Coatings Company has grown from a small factory into a leading enterprise with annual sales exceeding 2 billion yuan. Currently, under the HR umbrella, there are brands such as "HR Paint," "Aide Paint," and "Century Pearl." Among them, the main brand represented by "HR Paint" enjoys high fame and product market share in China's coatings industry. After HR Coatings' brand was recognized as a well-known trademark by the national administrative authority, it will further enhance its brand awareness and obtain special policy protection.
Regarding this, Fang Xin, Vice General Manager of HR Coatings Group, expressed: "The recognition of 'HR Paint Huarun' as a well-known trademark fully acknowledges and encourages HR Coatings' rights protection efforts, enhancing HR Coatings' international reputation and brand influence. With the power of law as a guarantee, HR will be more confident in its future intellectual property rights protection path. At the same time, we will take this opportunity to fully utilize the special protection policies for well-known trademarks and spare no effort in brand building. While continuing to adhere to quality and credibility, we will continue our rights protection actions to provide truly high-quality products to consumers."
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