Run Ming Law Office recently represented renowned Chinese pianist Li Yundi to invalidate a trademark for piano products registered under the name of “Yundi” by another individual.

Li, known as China’s “Prince of Piano”, had applied to the Chinese Trademark Review and Adjudication Board (TRAB) in 2006 to oppose the awarding of the “Yundi” trademark and design to a privately-owned business that makes and sells pianos as well as electronic organs. However, the application was rejected in 2009 as “unfounded”.

The former gold medalist at the International Chopin Piano Competition then commissioned Run Ming to launch an administrative lawsuit against the TRAB judgment of upholding the trademark. Li eventually won the lawsuit after two trials when the Beijing Higher Court ultimately cancelled the TRAB decision last year.

The TRAB, in late October, reviewed the case to confirm that the trademark of the “Yundi” name and design infringes Li’s Prior right of personal name, and that the trademark should be invalidated.
Li’s chief attorney Wang Yadong told ALB that the TRAB decision was a “groundbreaking” one compared to previous rules which deemed that only the use of a person’s full name can be judged as infringement of one’s name right.

“We very much welcome the decision by the TRAB. This is a typical case that protects the right of a celebrity’ name, and can be a good reference for future cases,” said Wang, executive partner at Run Ming.

“We hope this case will push forward the clarification of the measurement of subjective malice in the new amendment of the Trademark Law,” he said.

Li did not ask for civil compensation in this case. ALB

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