关键信息
Veteran cartoonist Ao Yu-hsiang recently announced that he received a trademark cancellation notice from the Intellectual Property Office regarding his classic work, Wulong Yuan. The office initiated this action after a third party filed for cancellation, citing a lack of trademark usage over a three-year period.
The Intellectual Property Office clarified that the cancellation process is based on specific product categories under the Trademark Act. While the registration for the 'hotel' service in category 43 was maintained due to evidence of actual use, other services such as nursing homes and category 30 goods were cancelled due to insufficient proof of usage.
The Taipei Comic Union issued a statement condemning the third party's actions, alleging that the applicant conducted long-term surveillance of the creator's activities. They characterized the move as a premeditated attempt to target the IP and expressed support for the creator's decision to pursue legal counsel.
The Intellectual Property Office emphasized that the trademark cancellation does not impact the creator's copyright, as trademark and copyright protections are governed by different legal requirements. The current decision is not yet final, and the parties involved retain the right to seek administrative relief.
