Invalidation Action Against A Copycat Of French GI

The Trademark Review and Adjudication Board and the Beijing Intellectual Property Court invalidated a copycat of an unregistered French GI in China by invoking the Article 10.2 (foreign geographical name known to the public is prohibiting from being registered as a trademark) and Article 10.1.8 (unhealthy influence) of the 2001 Trademark Law.

Case Brief

The INSTITUT NATIONAL DE L'ORIGINE ET DE LA QUALITE (previously known as Institut National des Appellations d'Origine - INAO) is the French government bureau regulating agricultural products with Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs). INAO forms part of the French Ministry of Agriculture.

Margaux is a wine growing region and appellation d'origine contrôlée (controlled designation of origin) within Haut-Médoc in Bordeaux, the world's wine capital. Margaux is the name of the village situated in the middle of this production area, and its leading "château" is also called "Chateau Margaux".