From now on, Wuhan old brands will be certificated rather than boasted.
On October 19, the first batch of 39 Wuhan old brands were officially authorized. In addition to the former ones, there are a total of 51 old brands in Wuhan.The city leaders Shao Weimin and Huang Weiguo attended the plaque-awarding ceremony.
Old brands are mostly on foods and enjoy no life tenure
At the end of last year, Wuhan municipal government released the "Measures for Determining Wuhan Old Brands" (the "Measures"). Accordingly, the declaration and accreditation work should start in 2011.
Through voluntary declaration, initial review by local competent commerce departments and final review by expert group, 38 old brands came out of 45 applications. Formerly, 14 brands from 13 enterprises were authorized as Chinese Old Brands by the National Ministry of Commerce.
It is found that old brands are closely related to the daily life of Wuhan citizens and catering and foods contribute a large part of share, including Laotongcheng, Xiaotaoyuan, Donglaishun and Wang Yuxia.
Other old brands, including pharmaceutical products such as Zhonglian, horological products and daily chemical products, are also incorporated into the list.
Old brands have no life tenure. If enterprises improperly use Chinese Old Brand and Wuhan Old Brand labels, severely damage users' interest, infringe upon intellectual property or disturb market order, their brands will be annulled according to related procedures.
Old brands subsidized with 5 million yuan annually
The local government raised 8 supporting policies in 2010. An individual project can obtain up to 1 million yuan fund.
From 2011 to 2015, Wuhan government allocates 5 million yuan funds annually to old brands identified by the national, provincial or municipal governments.
Enterprises engaging in chained operation or distribution center will be subsidized with 30% of the actual investment funds, with the subsidy of each project not exceeding 1 million yuan. Enterprises engaging in product research and development as well as technical innovation will be subsidized with 40% of the actual investment funds. The maximum subsidy line is 300,000 yuan. Meanwhile, in a bid to encourage old brand enterprises to go out and participate in major promotion activities, each enterprise will be subsidized with 50% of the booth paid-in investment and the enterprise honored as Chinese Old Brand can obtain 100,000 yuan in one lump sum.
Two Wuhan old brand enterprises "五芳斋" and "长生堂" have obtained 1.74 million yuan as financial assistance.
The original sites of old brands will get protected
Wuhan will improve the protection of the original sites of old brands. In the urban construction and renovation, the original sites of old brands will be taken into prior consideration.
At present, as the subway is under construction on Jianghan Road, old brands Sijimei and Jingyi Eyeglasses are moved out and will be rebuilt on the original sites in the future.
In addition, Wuhan government vows to enhance the protection of shop names and trademarks of old brand enterprises, encourage them to register trademarks home and abroad, help them to file applications for ICH.
Wuhan will establish an old brand association based on the old brand alliance so as to conduct theoretical research and policy consultation and information exchange. [Chinese version is available on Changjiang Daily]
(Source: IPR in China)
