1. Beijing
New integrated circuit park planned for Zhongguancun
An integrated circuit innovation park is now planned for the Zhongguancun area, famed as China's Silicon Valley.
Focusing on R&D, design and manufacturing, the 210,000 square meter park is projected to generate an annual output value of 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) after completion.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences will invest 1.25 billion yuan in the project that seeks to attract competitive companies and startups to foster proprietary intellectual property and innovative products.
The park is one of 15 investment deals signed in early December worth a combined 21 billion yuan for new projects in the technology-intensive industrial zone Zhongguancun Science City
NBA sues appeal board over Lakers trademark ruling
NBA Properties Inc, which manages businesses related to the US basketball league, recently filed suit in Beijing No 1 Intermediate People's Court against the Trademark Appeal Board of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce in an ongoing trademark registration dispute.
The NBA says it found a Fujian-based sporting goods company applied to trademark the name Lakers Team and its Chinese translation for use in beer, mineral water and other drinks.
The NBA already owns trademarks in China that use the name Los Angeles Lakers for office supplies, fitness equipment, clothes and leather products.
The US company first disputed the registration in 2006.
The appeal board ruled that evidence presented by NBA Properties is a convincing argument of the Lakers' reputation in basketball circles, but insufficient to prove that the Lakers mark secured its status as a well-known trademark before the Fujian firm's application.
In addition, noting the difference in use and target customer groups, the board said that the trademark in dispute will not lead to confusion or misunderstanding among consumers.
NBA suit asks the court to revoke the board's decision.
2. Jiangsu
Cloud computing center massing calculations in Wuxi
The first stage of China's cloud computing center for the so-called "Internet of Things" - the networked interconnection of daily appliances - began operation in Wuxi in late November.
Dawning Information Industry Co Ltd signed an agreement with Wuxi New District for joint construction of the center in July, which is planned to include 5,000 square meters of computer rooms.
With an initial investment of 50 million yuan ($7.5 million), the first stage of the project plans to build a high-performance computer system that can run 50 trillion calculations a second.
The second stage of the project will need another 60 million yuan investment to enable the system's speed to reach 100 trillion calculations, according to the plan.
3. Chongqing
Tianfu Cola wins to recover original recipe from Pepsi
Local Chinese herbal drink maker Tianfu Cola Group Co has prevailed in a lawsuit against its former partner Pepsi to retrieve its formula, the first time a Chinese brand has won such a lawsuit.
Tianfu's victory reflects increasing brand awareness among Chinese companies, experts said.
Founded in the early 1980s, Tianfu Cola made in Chongqing was then a leader in the nation's soft drink market.
It established a joint venture with the multinational beverage giant Pepsi in 1994, yet the original agreement that 50 percent of the joint venture's total output would be Tianfu Cola was not honored.
Instead, production of the Chinese brand drink was reduced year by year until Tianfu sold its entire stake to its foreign partner
In 2009, Tianfu initiated legal procedures for infringement.
"Our ultimate goal is to restore the production of Tianfu Cola as well as other drinks and rebuild our proprietary brand," said Qian Huang, general manager of Tianfu.
4. Guangdong
Carmakers to man booth on fake parts danger
Eight leading automakers and parts suppliers including BMW, Toyota, Volkswagen and General Motors will have a joint presentation at the Quality Brands Protection Committee during the China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition set for Dec 21 to 27.
The show aims to educate the public about damage from fake auto parts, impart knowledge about car maintenance and increase awareness of intellectual property rights.
5. Tibet
Local songs, dances spread after intangible heritage listed
Increasing numbers of local songs and dances have been introduced around the world, indicating that Tibet's intangible cultural heritage is receiving improved protection, said Ren Shuqiong, vice-head of the autonomous region's cultural department.
Central and local governments have invested more than 24 million yuan ($3.6 million) to preserve such heritage over the past five years.
The government also has set up a database that includes 406 intangible cultural heritage items including folk literature, music and dance, and 1,177 artists that have been designated to spread the region's traditional culture.
China Daily
(China Daily 12/15/2010 page17)
