PRC Bochap Copyright or Intellectual Property!

straitstimes.com
The Voice copyright owner: China talent show judged by Jay Chou is pirated, illegal

BEIJING - The future of the Chinese singing competition judged by pop king Jay Chou is uncertain, as the Dutch producer of the Voice format charged on Wednesday (April 20) that the Chinese show is a pirated programme, said Sina website.

In the latest salvo of a copyright dispute between format owner Talpa Global and its former Chinese partner Star China Media, Talpa Holding chief executive Pim Schmitz held a press conference in Beijing.

On Jan 20, Chinese company Talent International announced that it had signed a letter of intent to work with Talpa. On Jan 22 in Hong Kong, Talpa sought an interim injunction banning Star China from producing and broadcasting the fifth season of The Voice Of China.

On Jan 28, Star China said it would sue Talpa for unilaterally breaking the contract between them.

The Voice Of China has since been renamed China Super Vocal for its upcoming fifth season, which retains Chou, as well as singers Wang Feng, Na Ying and Harlem Yu, as judges. It has announced a new logo, which replaces the original hand and microphone with the letter V. The show, which retains its Chinese title Zhong Guo Hao Sheng Yin, has been cleared by Chinese censors and is planning a July premiere, said Sina.

But on Wednesday, Talpa said that Star China's show, even with a new logo and some amendments to the format, is "pirated" and illegal.

It said it could not work with Star China on The Voice Of China any more, not because it asked a sky-high price for the fifth season, but because Star China offered a too-low price, reported Sina.

Mr Schmitz said: "This show is more and more popular every year, it's natural and normal for prices to rise, and no country is an exception. However, we found that our partner, in making the terms of a contract proposal for the fifth season, wanted to pay a fee lower than for the second season."

Talpa said it did not break the contract unilaterally. Rather, Mr Schmitz said, the two sides failed to negotiate a new deal in the last two to three months of the old contract, because of Star China's "absurd" terms.

Talpa will take further legal action to prevent the broadcasting of Star China's show, he said.

Separately, Talpa is preparing a new season of The Voice Of China with Talent International, he said.

Talpa is owned by British broadcaster ITV. Star China, which was owned by media magnate Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, was sold to Chinese company China Media Capital in 2010. It has produced other successful adaptations of foreign variety shows, such as China's Got Talent.

pcmag.com
China: Go Ahead and Slap the iPhone Name on Your Case, Bag
By Stephanie Mlot

By Stephanie Mlot
May 4, 2016 12:14pm EST
0 Comments

Apple could not prove that "IPHONE" was a well-known name in China in 2007.
iPhone SE quick 2

If you're in China and spot a leather case emblazoned with the "IPHONE" moniker, it's probably not from Apple. But before you think "copyright infringement," the case makers are within their rights to use the name, according to a recent court ruling.

The Beijing Municipal Higher People's Court recently quashed an Apple appeal to stop Xintong Tiandi Technology from using the iPhone name, which Cupertino trademarked in 2002.

According to Forbes, Apple could not prove that "IPHONE" was a well-known name in China in 2007, when Xintong Tiandi trademarked the name in the region for a product lineup that includes leather phone cases, passport covers, and handbags.

Apple announced the iPhone in early 2007, and released it in the US later that year. But the tech titan did not begin selling its handsets in China until two years later.

In a statement posted to its website, and translated by Forbes, Xintong Tiandi said that "the 'iphone' brand can blossom widely outside Apple."

"Apple is disappointed the Beijing Higher People's Court chose to allow Xintong to use the IPHONE mark for leather goods when we have prevailed in several other cases against Xintong. We intend to request a retrial with the Supreme People's Court and will continue to vigorously protect our trademark rights," Apple said in a statement.

"We work hard to make the best products in the world and want to ensure our customers' experience is not compromised by companies who try to profit from using our brand," the company concluded.

The news comes shortly after Apple posted its first-ever year-over-year decline in iPhone sales, and first revenue drop in 13 years. The dip, according to The New York Times, can be attributed to weakness in areas like mainland China—Apple's second-largest market outside of the US. Tim Cook appeared on CNBC this week, where he said he "could not be more optimistic" about China's future.
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chinatopix.com
Under Armour Warns Chinese Brand Uncle Martian Over Copyright Infringement
Rina S.

Business
By

| May 03, 2016 09:56 AM EDT
Under Armour Sponsors Various Teams and Sportspersons.

Under Armour has cautioned a Chinese company against infringing on its intellectual property.(Photo : Getty Images)

One of the most recognizable sportswear brand in the world Under Armour is in a scuffle with Chinese company Uncle Martian, a newly launched athletic brand, due to its alleged use of the it's logo.

Uncle Martian debuted late last month and has a logo which is strikingly similar to Under Armour's logo. While there are some differences in both logos, this has not stopped Under Armour from issuing a stark warning to the Chinese company.

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In a statement, the US company stated that "Uncle Martian's uses of Under Armour's famous logo, name, and other intellectual property are a serious concern and blatant infringement. Under Armour will vigorously pursue all business and legal courses of action."

Uncle Martian is being promoted by Tingfei Long Sporting Goods Co., which has been engaged in the business of manufacturing off-brand sports shoes for 25 years. The company mainly produces goods for domestic market.

Under Armour, on the other hand, is a US company with about $9 billion market cap. The company was started 20 years ago and is currently one of the biggest brands in sportswear and sports accessory segment. Under Armour has various sponsorship deals with various well-known sportspersons including Dwayne Johnson, Tom Brady, Tony Romo and Drew Mitchell. It also collaborates with teams such as Aston Villa, Rugby Canada, and New York Cosmos.