China News Service, Xi'an, November 26 (Reporter Zhang Yichen) The Tongguan Roujiamo Association issued an apology letter on the 26th for the trademark rights protection of Tongguan Roujiamo, and apologized to the operators of Tongguan Roujiamo across the country.

He also stated that the rights protection actions against the operators of Tongguan Roujiamo across the country shall be immediately stopped, and the matters related to the rights protection in the early stage will be properly handled.

　　According to media reports, on November 21st, the merchants of dozens of snack bars in Henan stated that they were sued by the Shaanxi Tongguan Roujiamo Association for their pork dumplings with the word "Tongguan", demanding them to pay 30,000 to 30,000 yuan. 50,000 yuan, if they want to continue to use the "Tongguan Roujiamo" trademark, they need to pay 99,800 yuan.

Merchants said that there are hundreds of snack bars across the country that have similar experiences with them.

　　When this happened, public opinion was in an uproar, "How can a place name become a trademark?"

　　The State Intellectual Property Office pointed out on the 26th that "Tongguan Roujiamo" is a geographical indication registered as a collective trademark, and its registrant does not have the right to license the use of this geographical indication collective trademark to merchants outside the specific area of ​​Tongguan and charge a franchise fee.

At the same time, it also has no right to prohibit businesses in a specific area of ​​Tongguan from properly using the geographical names in the collective geographical indication trademark.

The picture shows a "Tongguan Roujiamo" snack bar on the streets of Xi'an.

Photo by Gao Cheng

　　As one of the "business cards" of Shaanxi cuisine, Lao Tongguan Rou Jiamo is also a characteristic industry in the economic development of Tongguan County.

It is understood that the current Tongguan Roujiamo industry has become a pillar industry in the tertiary industry in Tongguan County, driving the development of the regional wheat, pork, spices, and catering industry chain.

　　According to an article published on the official WeChat account of the Tongguan County Government, on November 18, a symposium on the high-quality development of the Tongguan Roujiamo industry was held in Tongguan County.

It was proposed at the meeting: to maintain intellectual property rights, strengthen brand promotion, unify store standards, and shape Tongguan's brand image.

Improve the coverage of the county's supporting policies for the development of the meat sandwich industry.

It is necessary to strengthen cooperation and group development, and make every effort to promote the high-quality development of Tongguan Roujiamo industry.

　　In the letter of apology that day, the Tongguan Roujiamo Association hoped that the national operators would provide comments and suggestions for the high-quality development of Tongguan Roujiamo.

　　The Tongguan Roujiamo Association stated that the rights protection of the Tongguan Roujiamo trademark has caused serious troubles and troubles to the majority of Roujiamo operators.

After criticism, correction and help from numerous media and experts and scholars across the country, the association has realized its own mistakes.

And promised: Immediately stop the rights protection actions against the operators of Tongguan Roujiamo across the country.

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