China News Service, Zhengzhou, November 22, title: Central Plains snack "Hu La Tang" is trapped in brand controversy, "Xiaoyao Town" can "renxiaoyao"?
Kan Li
In the past few days, the famous Chinese snacks like Lanzhou beef noodles and Shaxian snacks such as Henan Xiaoyao Town Hu spicy soup have been caught in a brand rights conflict.
In the middle of this month, a local media in Henan reported that dozens of shopkeepers in Xiaoyao Town Hula Tang in Jiaozuo City suddenly received a court summons: "Sue them for infringing on the trademark use right of'Xiaoyao Hu La Tang', claiming 30,000 to 50,000 yuan.” The complainant was the Hu spicy soup association in Xiaoyao Town, Xihua County, Zhoukou.
A complaint stirred up multiple waves.
After receiving the court's summons, shopkeepers in Jiaozuo, Puyang, Anyang and other places in Henan responded urgently.
The relevant person in charge of the Hulatang Association of Xiaoyao Town, Xihua County said in an interview with the media that as early as 2003, the association had registered the "Xiaoyao Town" trademark. For various reasons, they adopted a laissez-faire development, which was not very good. Locally standardized operation.
Starting this year, they will carry out rights protection across the country.
The reporter learned from many places in Henan that most of the snack bars that use the name of Xiaoyao Town Hu spicy soup have been in operation for several years to more than ten years.
“We’ve been in this business since a bowl of Hu spicy soup was worth a dime. It’s been seventeen or eighteen years.” The owner of Hu spicy soup in Xiaoyao Township, Gao Ji, Zhengzhou told reporters that not long ago, she and Xiaoyao Many villagers in the town operating a hot and spicy soup restaurant in Zhengzhou received calls from the village to register their store information.
Affected by the rights protection turmoil, many hot and spicy soup restaurants in Kaifeng also changed their names in time.
Mr. Zhang, who has been operating the Hu spicy soup restaurant in Xiaoyao Town in Kaifeng for many years, told reporters that for many years, he hoped to carry forward the Hu spicy soup in his hometown.
Hu Latang cannot be named "Xiaoyao Town". The Hu La Tang Association of Xiaoyao Town explained that it is to protect the trademark rights of "Xiaoyao Town".
However, this statement has caused a lot of controversy.
Some agreed to defend their rights like Lanzhou Ramen, and some diners bluntly said, "We have removed the'Xiaoyao Town', and also removed the missing of hometown."
On November 21, the Hulatang Industry Development Center of Xihua County urgently halted the rights protection of the Hulatang trademark of "Xiaoyao Town", and ordered the Hulatang Association of Xiaoyao Town to suspend its current work, and stated that the "Xiaoyao Town" had been The government of Xiaoyao Town registered as a trademark as the brand name of Hu La Tang, "Hu La Tang is not only owned by Xiaoyao Town, but also belongs to the people of the whole country."
In fact, not only Xiaoyao Town’s spicy soup, but also Lanzhou beef noodles have also experienced brand rights protection incidents.
In this regard, Song Xiangqing, vice chairman of the China Business Economics Association, believes that the brand effect of "Xiaoyao Town" is beyond doubt. Most of the hot and spicy soup stores in Xiaoyao Town in various places are well-run and stable. In addition to high-quality meals and well-managed operations, they are obviously related to their brands. .
Song Xiangqing stated that based on the market phenomenon of "flag-raising adulteration", as a local famous food, the government and industry associations have sufficient reasons to regulate and rectify it. "It is necessary for the Xiaoyao Town Hu La Tang Association to protect its rights through registered trademark ownership. It is also necessary and should be supported and encouraged".
But Song Xiangqing further added that what needs to be explained is that the purpose of rights protection is to standardize and rectify, so that it can take the road of industrial revitalization of branding, scale, standardization, and chain development.
According to Wang Mingwei, director of Henan Rongkang Law Firm, as the operator of the famous "Xiaoyao Town" hot soup for breakfast in Henan, if the local natural or human factors are in compliance with the law, even if he does not join the association. Continue to use the name.
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