Japan’s move to protect geographical brands in China and its implication to Korea
I’ve been planning schedules to sites where geographical brands are born and to see what has happened in relation to China. Kagoshima Prefecture and its geographical brands including 県シンボルマーク, かごしまの農林水産物認証マーク, かごしまブランドマーク, かごしま黒豚証明書, さつま地鶏 and 薩摩 are one example.
For this, I’ve been hosting interviews with involved sections at chambers of commerce and industry of 4 prefectures. Leaders of local communities and officials at the industrial policy section of local governments would be contacted, too.
Japan’s move to protect geographical brands in China and its implication to Korea
Though failing to react in advance, Japanese central and local governments have responded in a proper way. They did take relevant steps after disputes over misuse of Japanese geographical brands in China were reported. They actively applied for trademarks in China and introduced guidelines domestically to protect geographical brands from further damage.
Such a move means a lot to Korean government as similar conflicts are expected to be wired between Korea and China in the near future. The concept of my project is born in this sense with special emphasis on timely and untouched research.
Japan’s move to preserve geographical brands in China and its implication to Korea
More cases have been noticed in the corporate sector. However, conflicts in the public sector are no less serious. That could explain why Japanese central and local governments have been eager to protect Japanese geographical brands in China.
Japan's reaction to protect geographical brands in China and its implication to South Korea
It is mainly because Japan’s exports of brand farm products could be adversely affected if Japanese geographical product and brand names are registered as Chinese trademarks.
So far a total of 9 Japanese prefectures, Aomori Prefecture(靑森県), Hokkaido Prefecture(北海県), Yamanashi Prefecture(山梨県), Shiga Prefecture(滋賀県), Wakayama Prefecture(和歌山県), Fukuoka Prefecture(福岡県), Saga Prefecture(佐賀県), Nagasaki Prefecture(長崎県) and Kagoshima Prefecture (鹿児島県) have successfully taken actions to register their trademarks in China.
Though failing to react in advance, Japanese central and local governments have responded in a proper way. They did take relevant steps after disputes over misuse of Japanese geographical brands in China were reported.
Japan's reaction to protect geographical brands in China and its implication to South Korea
Such aggressive drives time to time led to undesirable results accompanied by huge controversy and conflict. More cases have been noticed in the corporate sector.
However, conflicts in the public sector are no less serious. That could explain why Japanese central and local governments have been eager to protect Japanese geographical brands in China.
In fact, it has been alleged that many Chinese have illicitly trademarked or tried to trademark the names of famous Japanese places, names and local specialties in recent years.
Japan’s move to protect geographical brands in China and its implication to Korea
In terms of methodology, on-site visits and expert interviews are two pillars of my research. First of all, throughout mid September to mid October of 2013, I will pay a visit to 4 Japanese prefectures among 9 prefectures mentioned above.
Specifically, I will visit Aomori Prefecture, Wakayama Prefecture, Fukuoka Prefecture and Kagoshima Prefecture where geographical brands of each prefecture have been broadly known even outside Japan.
I’ve been planning schedules to sites where geographical brands are born and to see what has happened in relation to China. Kagoshima Prefecture and its geographical brands including 県シンボルマーク, かごしまの農林水産物認証マーク, かごしまブランドマーク, かごしま黒豚証明書, さつま地鶏 and 薩摩 are one example.
For this, I’ve been hosting interviews with involved sections at chambers of commerce and industry of 4 prefectures. Leaders of local communities and officials at the industrial policy section of local governments would be contacted, too.
Japan’s move to protect geographical brands in China and its implication to Korea
It is mainly because Japan’s exports of brand farm products could be adversely affected if Japanese geographical product and brand names are registered as Chinese trademarks.
So far a total of 9 Japanese prefectures, Aomori Prefecture(靑森県), Hokkaido Prefecture(北海県), Yamanashi Prefecture(山梨県), Shiga Prefecture(滋賀県), Wakayama Prefecture(和歌山県), Fukuoka Prefecture(福岡県), Saga Prefecture(佐賀県), Nagasaki Prefecture(長崎県) and Kagoshima Prefecture (鹿児島県) have successfully taken actions to register their trademarks in China.
Though failing to react in advance, Japanese central and local governments have responded in a proper way. They did take relevant steps after disputes over misuse of Japanese geographical brands in China were reported. They actively applied for trademarks in China and introduced guidelines domestically to protect geographical brands from further damage.
Such a move means a lot to Korean government as similar conflicts are expected to be wired between Korea and China in the near future. The concept of my project is born in this sense with special emphasis on timely and untouched research.
Japan’s move to protect geographical brands in China and its implication to Korea
It is between Japan and China where disputes over the intellectual property rights arise most in Northeast Asia. The fact that Japan is still leading this area and China has been rapidly raising its clout lies in this phenomenon.
As an emerging economy, China has tended to learn lessons from Japan, the most advanced economy in this region in a quick and simple way sometimes without due payment. Such aggressive drives time to time led to undesirable results accompanied by huge controversy and conflict.
More cases have been noticed in the corporate sector. However, conflicts in the public sector are no less serious. That could explain why Japanese central and local governments have been eager to protect Japanese geographical brands in China.
