Intellectual property linked to prosperity

The popularity of the mascot of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Bing Dwen Dwen, and that of the Paralympics, Shuey Rhon Rhon, is increasing by the day, with many queuing up to buy miniature replicas.

However, some are trying to cash in on their popularity. Till Feb 8, some 177 entities had applied for registering trademarks under Bing Dwen Dwen and 91 under Shuey Rhon Rhon. All of them, except for 45 entities registered with the organizing committee of the Games, were rejected.

However, the fact that so many tried to grab the trademark shows there is a trend of seeking illicit profits. In fact, many even applied for registering the name of Gu Ailing, the athlete who won gold in the women's freeski big air.

Anyone has the right to register a trademark, but the intellectual property rights of the two mascots belong to the organizing committee of the Games, and those not connected with the event have no business registering it as a trademark.

If someone unconnected with the events registers any of the mascots as a trademark, he or she can mislead consumers into buying the wrong souvenirs.

It is sometimes not easy to decide who is illegally applying for a trademark. Someone might have registered for a trademark before it became a mascot. However, those applying for registering a mascot immediately after it becomes popular are doing it illegally and their application should be rejected.

By rejecting such applications, the attitude of the China National Intellectual Property Administration is clear. That trademarks are not tools for making profits illegally, and intellectual property rights must be protected.

That's the right attitude toward building a nation with strong intellectual property rights, which in turn will promote prosperity for all.