China reports cases of Olympic trademark violations

(AP)
Updated: 2007-06-14 21:46

SHANGHAI _ China may be famed for fake goods, but don't mess with the Olympics.

Chinese inspectors have uncovered 1,556 cases of violations involving Beijing Olympic slogans, logos and other trademarks, a state media report said Thursday, citing figures from the State Administration of Industry and Commerce's trademark bureau.

The bulk of those _ 1,128 _ were detected during 2004 and 2005. Cases those years involved goods worth 14.8 million yuan (US$1.9 million), incurring fines of 8.38 million yuan (US$1.1 million).

The remaining 428 cases were uncovered since the beginning of 2006, the state-run Xinhua news agency said, but gave no figures on monetary amounts or fines involved.

Chinese officials have sought to quash fears of widespread faking of Olympic branded items.

Li Dongsheng, an administration deputy director, was quoted as saying the organization had registered the seven main Beijing Olympic trademarks, including the "friendlies", a set of five Olympic mascots.

He said plans were moving ahead to register 69 other Olympic trademarks, including the torch design.

Trademarked products stand to generate significant revenue and public support for the Beijing Games, which will cost about US$38 billion.

Sales of licensed products, including those with the mascots, brought in about US$300 million at each of the last Olympics. Host cities keep 10 percent to 15 percent of the royalties.