The saga began in June 2009 – one year after the first
Kung Fu Panda film was released – when Shanghai Weipu, a
Chinese company, filed an application to register the trade mark
"KUNG FU PANDA 功夫熊猫."
DreamWorks had filed an application for the KUNG FU PANDA trade
mark as far back as 2006. This was subsequently approved for
registration in 2009 and is protected for products such as toys and
games. Shanghai Weipu's application claimed protection not for
these products but for services including medical, hairdressing and
beauty salon services. In August 2010, the Chinese Trade Mark
Office ("TMO") examined the trade mark and published it
for opposition purposes.
DreamWorks considered the application a clear imitation of its
brand and filed an opposition citing its earlier trade mark
protected in China. However, in July 2012, the TMO rejected
DreamWorks' opposition and approved the registration of the
trade mark, noting the dissimilar services claimed. After a
