News from the Patent Offfice of China

Start of registrations in the Korean-alphabet domain of “…..korea”
On May 3, 2011, Korea Communications Commission revealed that it will begin to accept registrations in a Korean-alphabet state domain called “.한국” (pronounced “hankook”, meaning “.korea”)The use of said domain will make it possible to give descriptions of websites’ goals in opening, names, etc. in the Korean alphabet. In addition, it will also be possible to use the Latin alphabet, numbers, and hyphens.
After the Korean government and public institutions have made preferential registrations from May 25 to August 16, 2011, general registrations will begin on August 22. If multiple requests for an identical domain name are made from August 22 through 31, the registration holder will be determined by a public drawing of lots.

ITC provisional decision: U.S. Kodak’s digital camera technology does not infringe Apple's patents
Regarding Apple’s lawsuit against Eastman Kodak for patent infringement on digital camera-related technologies, the magistrates at the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) pronounced a provisional decision on May 12, 2011 that there has been no infringement.

Four companies including Microsoft oppose trademark registration of “App Store” in Europe
Regarding Apple’s attempts to obtain trademark registrations of the names “App Store” and “Appstore” four companies (Microsoft, HTC, Nokia, and Sony Ericsson) have filed invalidation appeals concerning said trademark registrations with the Community Trade Marks organization.
The companies assert that the expression “App Store” is too general a phrase. In April 2011, Amazon filed a lawsuit in Europe on similar grounds.

China Internet Lab: use rate of pirated software in China is 12%
On May 12, 2011, a Chinese Internet lab announced the results of a survey it had conducted with regard to the use of pirated software in China. According to said survey, in fiscal 2010, the use rate of pirated software amounted to 12% of the Chinese market, showing a 2% decrease from the previous year. Pirated software comprises 24% (over 100,990,000,000 yuan) of total sales. However, according to an announcement by U.S. Business Software Alliance (BSA), the rate of illegal use of pirated software reaches 78%.

Tsuburaya Productions engaged in a dispute over Ultraman rights of use outside of Japan
Japanese special effects studio Tsuburaya Productions has been involved in a dispute with a Thai industrialist for the last fifteen years over the rights of use of superhero character Ultraman outside of Japan . Since Ultraman-related goods not licensed by Tsuburaya are to be sold in countries across Asia in the near future, the conflict is expected to escalate.

Logo featuring “Homba Sanuki Udon” name granted a trademark registration
The Homba Sanuki Udon* cooperative union of the city of Takamatsu in Kagawa Prefecture has announced that a logo featuring the name “Homba Sanuki Udon” was granted a trademark registration, as had been requested by the union. The logo is to be used by eighty-six business operators who are members of the union, and its purpose is to make it easier for consumers to distinguish original Sanuki udon from other kinds of udon.*Translator’s note: Udon is a a type of Japanese wheat noodles, and Sanuki udon is a specialty of Kagawa Prefecture.