The 15th China International Trademark Festival was grandly held in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, from September 5 to 8, 2025. Guided by the mission of “Serving Trademark and Brand Development and Fostering Well-Known Chinese Brands,” the event embraced the theme “Heritage · Innovation · Sharing.” It brought together experts, scholars, business leaders, and intellectual property professionals from around the world to discuss key issues in the field of trademark and brand development.
With 30 years of dedicated experience in intellectual property legal services, Janlea once again played an active role in this year’s festival. The firm co-organized and hosted the “Featured Case Analysis Conference” and was honored with multiple awards.
1. Co-organizing and Hosting the Featured Case Analysis Conference
On September 7, Janlea co-organized the “Trademark Featured Case Analysis Conference,” a key parallel forum at the Festival, chaired by Senior Partner Zachary ZHANG. The event brought together experts from the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, the China National Intellectual Property Administration, the Jiangsu High People’s Court, the Beijing Market Supervision Administration, and leading companies, who delivered insightful speeches under the theme “From Cases to Rules: Identification of Confusion and Reconstruction of Order.”
The conference also announced the 2024 Award-Winning Exemplary Trademark Agency Cases, which included Janlea’s success in the “CREST-TO-CREST IN CHINESE (对顶)” Trademark Cancellation (Non-Use) Reexamination Case.
2. Honored with Multiple Awards at the Taiyuan Trademark Festival
2.1 Ranked Among Top Tier Agencies in 2025 IP Service Capability Data Report
At the Welcome Reception on September 5, the "2025 Trademark Agency Service Capability Data Report – 600-5A Level Agencies" was jointly released by China Trademark Magazine and IPhouse. Janlea was once again recognized on this prestigious list. Since its inaugural release in 2023, Janlea has been included for three consecutive years. This not only affirms Janlea’s large-scale and professional operations but also demonstrates its consistent ability to provide stable, efficient, and high-quality services to clients.
2.2 Awarded “Exemplary Case in Trademark Brand Development”
Also on September 5, the China Trademark Association announced the 2025 Exemplary Cases in Trademark Brand Development, with only 10 cases selected nationwide. Janlea’s “WALOVI (王老吉) Trademark Brand Development and Operation,” was among the honorees.
This selection aims to summarize and promote innovative practices and advanced experiences in trademark brand development, establish benchmarks, and enhance the value of enterprise and regional trademark brands. Through a process including voluntary applications and expert evaluation, 10 exemplary cases were selected from submissions nationwide for their outstanding achievements in trademark brand development.
See details: 2025 Exemplary Cases in Trademark Brand Development and Operation (Official Announcement)
2.3 Awarded as the contributor of 2025 trademark and brand Festival
As a professional agency with 30 years of expertise in intellectual property, Janlea actively contributes to the industry’s development and was awarded the title of “2025 Contributing Unit to the Trademark Brand Festival.”
2.4 Award-Winning Trademark Agency Case
On September 7, in the highly anticipated exemplary case awards, Janlea achieved another success: the “CREST-TO-CREST IN CHINESE (对顶)” Trademark Cancellation (Non-Use) Reexamination Case was selected as a “2024 Exemplary Trademark Agency Case.” This marks the tenth consecutive year, since 2015, that Janlea has been honored with an exemplary case award at the Festival, solidifying its role as an industry benchmark.
【CASE OVERVIEW】
Applicant Yong XIAO (肖勇) filed a cancellation and after an non-use cancellation appeal request against the registered trademark “CREST-TO-CREST IN CHINESE (对顶)” (No. 26784361), owned by SMALLEY STEEL RING COMPANY on the grounds that the mark had become a generic name in relation to the approved goods under Class 6, including “Key rings of common metal; Copper rings; Springs (metal products); Metal rings”.
The key issue was whether, after registration, the trademark had become a generic designation for these goods.
The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) concluded that the evidence provided by the applicant, Yong XIAO was insufficient to prove that the trademark had lost its distinctiveness and become a generic name for the goods such as “Key rings of common metal; Copper rings; Springs (metal products); Metal rings” after registration.
Moreover, the registrant, SMALLEY submitted substantial evidence demonstrating the use and promotion of “CREST-TO-CREST IN CHINESE (对顶)” as a trademark in connection with goods such as “metal rings”.
Therefore, CNIPA held that the trademark did not constitute a generic name for the designated goods under Article 49 of the Trademark Law. The registration of the trademark for the goods in question was maintained.
【ANALYSIS】
This landmark ruling clarifies the standards for determining genericness of a registered trademark. The core consideration is whether the mark has lost its distinctiveness—the capacity to indicate commercial origin—and become a common name for the goods in question. Such assessment must be grounded in nationwide market evidence and widespread consumer perception, avoiding reliance on isolated usage practices.
The case reinforces that consistent, normative, and active use is essential to maintaining trademark validity. Registrants should preserve robust usage evidence to build a defensible record against cancellation risks.
This decision provides clear guidance for resolving genericness disputes and underscores the importance of standardized trademark practices industry-wide.
Coinciding with Janlea’s 30th anniversary in 2025, this recognition reflects the firm’s longstanding expertise in IP protection. Janlea remains committed to delivering high-quality legal services and advancing innovation in trademark safeguarding.
