On January 31, the General Administration of Customs of the PRC (GACC) held a press conference on its supporting actions for the incoming 2008 Olympic Games at the Beijing Olympic Press Center. Mr. Zheng GONG, Deputy Commissioner-general of China Customs, says that the enhanced protection of Olympic logo by the China Customs to create a healthy legal environment for the 2008 Olympic Games has been well recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Organizing Committee for Beijing Olympic Games (BOCOG).

The 2008 Olympic Games will greatly contribute to the growth of China's comprehensive national power and a better awareness by the world of accomplishments in China's opening and reform and its modernization drive. The Games will bring about a surging number of passengers and commodities flowing in or out of the country, among which there would inevitably be souvenirs illegally bearing Olympic logo and counterfeit or pirated goods. In order to fulfill China's commitment made in the bidding campaign for hosting and to ensure the success of the 29th Olympic Games, the Chinese State Council proclaimed the Regulations on the Protection of Olympic Logo in 2002. Since then, the China Customs has strengthened its protection of Olympic logo in handling import and export.

It is the mission and obligation of the China Customs, as a national supervisory authority, to maintain the regular order of import and export, to protect the legitimate rights of intellectual property rights holders, and to fight against the importing or exporting of IPR infringing goods. Besides its duty to protect the trademark exclusive rights, patent rights and copy rights, Olympic logo protection is an important new task for China Customs. For an effective border control in this regard, the GACC has adopted a series of implementation policies based on the Regulations, detailing a closer cooperation with BOCOG, a more proactive seizure and a better case handling procedure. At the same time, it has publicized a list of Olympic logos registered with the General Administration of Customs of the PRC in an effort to improve the public awareness.

Since the promulgation of the Regulations, the China Customs has reportedly launched about a hundred seizures of importing or exporting goods infringing the exclusive rights of Olympic logos, ranging from apparel, headgear, sports utility to light industry products and textile. The Customs' contribution to the fulfillment of China's commitment made in the bidding campaign and the creation of a sound legal environment for the 2008 Olympic Games has been highly valued by the IOC and the BOCOG.

(China Customs)

2007-02-05

2007-02-05