Xinhua Viewpoint｜How can "Tianyan" become a major tobacco trademark
Recently, some media reported that a cigarette named "Tianyan" was sold in markets in Guizhou, Yunnan and other places.
After random interviews on the street, many citizens of Guiyang believed that the cigarette was related to the 500-meter spherical radio telescope in Pingtang County, Guizhou Province, because the telescope was often called the "Chinese Sky Eye".
The reporter found after investigation that the cigarette maker did not reach a consensus with the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the construction and operation unit of "China Sky Eye" (FAST). As of 18:00 on August 13th, reporters called Hongyun Honghe Tobacco (Group) Co., Ltd. Publicity and Planning Department for many times, but no one answered them.
The lawyer believes that "eyes of the sky" is a literary vocabulary and should not be exclusive. However, the "Sky Eye" radio telescope logo on the cigarette package, as well as the English abbreviation of "FAST" and the astronomical pattern, indicate that the package has a subjective awareness of deliberately guiding consumers to think and promote the "Sky Eye" astronomical telescope. From the perspective of advertising law and tort liability law, it may be suspected of infringement.
Regarding the trademark registration and use of "Tianyan" by tobacco companies, the China Smoking Control Association issued a statement on its official website on August 13, hoping that the Trademark Office of the State Intellectual Property Office and other departments would pay attention to this matter.
Reporters: Cui Xiaoqiang, Wu Siyang
Dubbing: Wang Ruofan (internship)
Produced by the Audio and Video Department of Xinhua News Agency