Archive for Intellectual Property

薛教授在商标品牌域名论坛上主题演讲

6月第十三届中国国际商标品牌节在东莞举行。具有网络世界商标属性的顶级域名成为品牌节期间热点话题,尤其是6月18日在“域见新机 标连世界”商标品牌域名论坛上,受到来自互联网名称与数字地址分配机构、品牌商标、法律界等专家的推荐。第二轮顶级域名即将开放申请,论坛及展会现场关于顶级域名的咨询络绎不绝。ZDNS副总经理吴琦、冯硕分别对顶级域名在数字时代的品牌意义进行分享,以顶级域名为代表的互联网关键基础资源是“战略资源”,对数字品牌维护和互联网安全管理具有举足轻重的作用。企业要关注当前域名技术的技术化、安全化升级趋势,将数字品牌融入客户体验,利用下一代DNS技术助力企业数字化转型,重塑数字品牌的网络根基。根据《全球品牌顶级域名发展报告》,目前343个企业一共运营着512个顶级域名。顶级域名正在被全球包括谷歌、亚马逊、宝马、中信集团等世界五百强企业竞相追捧,认可度正在不断飙升。与会专家们一致认同顶级域名多缀合一、品牌聚焦、全球唯一、自由分配的属性,以及重要的网络品牌资源价值。值第二轮顶级域名即将开放之际,企业纷纷布局网络品牌专属商标。

薛虹教授受邀发表主题演讲,向与会嘉宾系统讲解了如何通过互联网尤其是域名系统,使企业品牌得到有效的管理。薛教授认为,申请顶级域名,是实现互联网品牌自主可控的终极路径。如果国内某新型消费品被国外抢注了顶级域名,将给自己造成了不可估量的损失。薛虹对ZDNS副总经理吴琦的分享表示赞同,她谈到,例如在券商、银行等金融领域,一个自主掌控的顶级域名,对于防备一些难以预见互联网安全事件有着很大的帮助。薛虹还呼吁ICANN积极推动新一轮顶级域名的申请开放,让不断涌现出的力图打造全球业务的中国企业可以获得它们的专属品牌顶级域名。薛教授还认为即便不需要顶级域名的中小企业也应积极注册独立域名,以更好地管理自己的品牌和数据资产。

薛教授指出,商标和品牌是法律上两个不同的概念。在我国这样一个实行注册商标制度的国家,每一个商标在商标局注册之后,它的标志、号码、使用的商品或服务类别都是确定的,每一个商标都是特定的。商标权被侵犯时,企业需要具体举证。而品牌则不同,它是以商标为基础,整合了企业拥有的名称、标志、LOGO以及商业宣传和公众认知,最后形成的一种商业影响力。品牌常说金杯银杯不如老百姓的口碑,品牌就是公众对一个组织或事务的认知和形象,这个形象是非常具有商业价值的。

顶级域名是实现互联网品牌自主可控的重要手段

今天的主要话题是如何在互联网,尤其是通过域名系统,使品牌得到有效的管理。对此我认为注册、使用顶级域名是实现互联网品牌自主可控的重要手段。在很多特殊行业,如果你获得了一个顶级域名,就真正对安全性有了极大的保证。尤其是在券商、银行等金融领域,非常需要获得一个自主掌控的顶级域名,以防备一些难以预见的互联网安全事件。此外,由于之前企业只能注册二级域名,多数跨国经营的企业采用的是各个国家域名相加的方法,注册一个非常长的域名,从商标法角度来看显著性被削弱了。而新出现的顶级域名给企业带来了新的可能性和新的机会。现在,越来越多人使用APP等互联网应用,似乎域名越来越退回到资源层了,在日常生活中不需要了。而我认为,它们还是要浮现到上层,而且非常有必要。因为域名是基于国际标准的、开放的互联网设施,是永远存在的数字资产。由于现在互联网碎片化的出现,网络平台越来越多,其稳定性无法评估,一旦无法访问会对于企业的正常运营和品牌形象产生严重的影响。所以非常需要域名系统作为终极的、一旦出现问题仍然可以解析、独立存在于网络上的数字资产。当然,目前很多企业没有办法申请顶级域名,这需要包括ICANN在内的组织积极推动新一轮顶级域名的申请开展,让不断涌现出的力图打造全球业务的中国企业可以获得它们的专属品牌顶级域名。

商标权利人数据库+三大争议解决制度 全面维护顶级域名品牌权益

作为商标品牌资产,域名的使用必然伴随着侵权争议。为了保护商标权利人的利益,ICANN制定了IDM(商标权利人数据库)。商标权利人可以提交自己的商标权利和使用证据,经过德勤(验证服务商)的验证后,就可以进入TMCH数据库。好处主要有三方面:

第一个方面是在新的顶级域名下有优先注册机会。ICANN开放了1200多个新的顶级域名,商标权利人可能想在其中一些顶级域名下注册自己的二级域名,但是可能会遇到竞争或者抢注的情况。如果商标权利人进入了TMCH数据库,就可以在一个月内享受优先注册机会,这样就可以保证自己的品牌不被侵犯,也可以节省注册成本。

第二个方面是可以知道谁注册了和自己相同或者相似的商标。商标权利人不可能在所有顶级域名下都注册自己的二级域名,那么就有可能有其他人注册了和自己冲突的域名。如果商标权利人进入了TMCH数据库,就可以获得这些信息,然后通过争议解决制度来维护自己的权益,比如说取消或者转移对方的域名。这样可以防止自己的品牌受到损害,也可以及时发现竞争对手的动向。

第三个方面是可以注册一些限制性的顶级域名。有些新的顶级域名是有特定条件或者要求的。如果商标权利人进入了TMCH数据库,就可以证明自己有商标权,从而可以申请注册这些限制性的顶级域名,这样就可以提高自己品牌的知名度和信誉度。

以上都是预防性和管理性的措施。但是如果发生了争议,ICANN也制定了三种争议解决制度:第一种是UDRP(统一域名争议解决政策),第二种是URS(统一快速停止解析),第三种是PDDRP(商标授权后争议解决流程)。这三种制度都是通过仲裁或者调解来解决问题,比起法院诉讼更快捷、更低成本、更有效。以上是三种争议解决制度都是通过第三方机构来执行的,比如说ADNDRC就是UDRP和URS的执行机构之一。这些制度都有自己的优缺点,商标权利人应该根据自己的情况和目标来选择合适的方式来保护自己的权益。

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Prof. Xue’s Keynote Speech at ADNDRC Workshop 2.0C DOMAIN NAME DISPUTE RESOLUTION PRACTICE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP 2.0

ADNDRC provides comprehensive online dispute resolution services for resolving domain name disputes, accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) since 2002. ADNDRC DOMAIN NAME DISPUTE RESOLUTION PRACTICE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP 2.0 was held on 27-28 April 2023 in hybrid mode. On the top of Workshop 1.0, this Workshop explore the practical and legal complexities relating to proceedings under the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), including concurrent litigation proceedings, case management by the ADNDRC, and the practitioner’s perspective.

Prof. Xue was invited to give a keynote speech on DNDRC Proceedings’ Substantive Issues on Day One. Prof. Xue primarily addressed the emerging issues regarding resolution of disputes involving new gTLDs, application of national laws in DRP proceedings and assessment of bad faith of domainers. Prof. Xue highlighted the special features of new gTLD disputes and how to apply the three key elements in these disputes. Prof. Xue’s presentation was highly regarded by all the audience and inspired the other panelists to make the relevant comments and cited the decisions made by Prof. Xue. The Worship was a huge success to the domain name community in AP region.

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北京师范大学全球发展战略合作伙伴项目

Beijing Normal University Global Development Strategic Partnership Project

外国专家讲座 第五讲

Foreign Expert Virtual Lecture Series Lecture 5

Gauging Patent Impacts on Post-Pandemic World Trade

In Memory of 2022 UNCITRAL Asia and the Pacific Day

日期:2022年11月21,UTC +8:00 18:00-21:00

Zoom Virtual Conference System

主持人: Prof. Hong Xue, Beijing Normal University

主讲人: Madam Wu Xiaoping,Counselor in the Intellectual Property, Government Procurement and Competition Division of the World Trade Organization

Topic: Innovation and Patenting Activities of COVID-19 Vaccines in WTO Members: Analytical Review of Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) COVID-19 Vaccines Patent Landscape (VaxPaL)

At the beginning, Prof. Xue introduced the close collaboration with the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), which was established under the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2205 (XXI) of 17 December 1966 and has been the core legal body of the United Nations system in the field of international trade law. The UNCITRAL Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RCAP) launched from 2014 the UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Day (AP Day) academic series to promote awareness of international trade standards and norms, particularly those endorsed by UNCITRAL, among law students. The UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Day is an annual flagship academic series. In 2021, an initial 34 universities and institutions across the Asia-Pacific region in 13 jurisdictions have joined the annual celebration by co-hosting a series of academic events with UNCITRAL RCAP.

2022 marks a very special occasion as RCAP celebrates its 10th anniversary. The main theme of the UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Day 2022 is “RCAP@10: The Next 10 Years of Legal Harmonization in the Region”. Prof. Xue elaborated that world trade, including IP trade, is being affected the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccination is the most powerful tool to safeguard public health and trade environment.

Mrs. Wu was invited as an IP expert and giving the Lecture in her personal capacity for educational purpose only. Mrs. Xiaoping Wu is Counsellor in the Intellectual Property, Government Procurement and Competition Division of the World Trade Organization (WTO) from 2006. She undertakes work in the area of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement), with a focus on patent-related policy issues and review of WTO Members’ national intellectual property legislation. She also takes part in WTO technical assistance and capacity building programs on intellectual property and TRIPS to developing counties.

Mrs. Wu presented a WTO on-going research project to analyze and review COVID-19 vaccine patent landscape. The research provides a statistical analysis of 74 patent families which cover subject matter relevant to ten COVID-19 vaccines. These vaccines have accounted for 99% of the global COVID-19 vaccine production as of 31 December 2021, comprising over ten billion doses. Eight of them have been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for inclusion in its Emergency Use Listing (EUL). The analysis is based on a COVID-19 vaccines patent database developed by the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP). Through the detailed examination of patent applicants, filing dates, and offices of first and subsequent filing, the paper identifies patterns and trends of innovation and patenting activities of COVID-19 vaccines in WTO Members, and presents the legal status of the 74 patent families in 105 jurisdictions. The research provides the useful background information for policymakers on the significance and potential impact of these patent families with relevance to the access to and production of these vaccines in their individual countries. The research aims to support evidence-based assessments regarding potential options within and beyond the current TRIPS framework to promote equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

More than 20 BNU LLM, JM and PhD students from China, France, Italy, Russia, Congo and Uganda joined the Virtual Lecture and raised many questions to the Lecturers. The officers from UNCITRAL and RCAP also joined the Lecture virtually from Vienna and Incheon. The Lecture that enriched the participants’ understanding on the COVID-19 vaccine patent global distribution and legal impacts hailed as huge success.

2022年11月21日北京师范大学全球发展战略合作伙伴项目外国专家网络讲座第五讲在隆重举行,由薛虹教授主持。

薛教授首先介绍了与UNCITRAL的密切的合作关系及联合国国际贸易法委员会(UNCITRAL)亚太日20周年纪念活动,并邀请在世贸组织知识产权、政府采购与竞争部门工作的吴小平女士作客座演讲。吴女士系以个人身份为教育目的进行的演讲。

吴女士介绍了世贸组织今年早些时候基于MPP之COVID-19疫苗专利数据库进行的专项研究。该研究分析了10种针对COVID-19的疫苗涉及的74个专利族、开发所用的四种技术平台以及它们的全球生产现状,描述了与10种COVID-19疫苗相关的创新和专利活动的模式和趋势,包括专利申请人、申请日、受理首次申请及后续申请的专利局,并以图表的形式进行了清晰的呈现。本次研究的目的是在复杂的专利数据中得出与法律和技术有关的信息,为政策制定者提供有用的背景资料,说明这些专利族对各个国家获得和生产这些疫苗的重要性和潜在影响,将有助于对当前《与贸易有关的知识产权协定》的框架的备选方案进行实际评估,以促进公平获得针对COVID-19的疫苗。

来自中国、法国、意大利、俄罗斯、乌干达、刚果的中国法硕士项目研究生、法学硕士研究生、法律硕士研究生、法学博士研究生20余人参加了网络讲座,并与主讲教授进行了长时间的生动交流互动。UNCITRAL及RCAP的官员从维也纳与仁川网络参加了讲座。通过此次的专题讲座活动,我校法学院师生对与新冠肺炎疫苗有关的专利全球分布及其法律影响有了进一步的认识,这次活动的成功举办收获了师生的一致好评。

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Prof. Xue’s keynote at ADNDRC @ 20

On 3 November 2022, Asia Domain Name Dispute Resolution Center (ADNDRC), along with China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, organized the Webninar “ADNDRC @ 20: DNDR in the Digital Economy”. HKIAC, ICANN and CNNIC, etc. were the supporting organizations.

Prof. Xue gave a keynote speech on Rejuvenation of ADR in Digital Economy. She raised that ADR should be reinterpreted from the original meaning, making it Artificial Intelligence (AI) assisted smart dispute resolution to fit the need of digital economy. In her keynote speech, Prof. Xue said the ADR coverage and scope of proceedings have been augmented in the new laws like EU DSM Directive or Digital Service Act, automated procedural management will entirely replace human to create more efficient proceedings, and autonomous discovery could be widely adopted to assist the adjudicator to make more precise and solid decisions. In Prof. Xue’s belief, the AI-enabled, augmented and automated disputed resolution would become the mainstream dispute resolution in digital economy. More than 530,000 audience from 41 countries watched the Webinar.

2022年11月3日,亚洲域名争议解决中心(ADNDRC)以“纪念亚洲域名争议解决中心成立20周年——数字经济时代的域名争议解决”为主题的年会成功在线举办。本次会议由亚域中心和中国国际经济贸易仲裁委员会(CIETAC)共同主办,香港国际仲裁中心(HKIAC)、韩国互联网址争议解决委员会(IDRC)、亚洲国际仲裁中心(AIAC)作为联合主办机构,支持机构包括互联网名称与数字地址分配机构(ICANN)、中国互联网络信息中心(CNNIC)和中国信息通信研究院(CAICT)。

“数字经济的网上知识产权保护”议题由贸仲知识产权争议解决处处长杨帆主持。亚域中心域名专家、北京师范大学法学院教授、商务部电子商务专家薛虹以“数字经济背景下多元争议解决机制的复兴”为题,就人工智能在非讼争议解决中发挥的巨大作用作了主题发言,提出重新理解ADR的含义与内容,为数字经济争议解决开辟新局面。北京互联网法院综合审判三庭副庭长颜君、广州物联网研究院院长王伟分别以“数字经济时代的新挑战与司法应对——北京互联网法院的司法实践”以及“WEB3.0时代数字资产与域名业务的融合思考”为主题作了精彩分享。会议全程网络直播,据统计,共有41个国家和地区53万余人次在线观看了本次会议,其中海外观看人数占比近40%。

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Prof. Xue’s New Publication

Reforming Intellectual Property brings together 19 of the world’s leading scholars in the field to offer their unique insight into the future of intellectual property. Providing a diverse array of perspectives on the most pressing reforms needed in the current IP regime, whether in terms of legislation at national and international levels, or interpretation of existing law, this exceptional book highlights the key issues in this area and sets out an agenda for future research and policy. Prof. Xue’s wrote the Chapter on “Copyright on digital platforms: shifting paradigms” and explored the new trends of copyright protection measures with the evolution of digital economy.

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