[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[43523]
(No. 469.)
No. 1.
[December 29.]
SECTION 4.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received December 29.)
Six,
Peking, November 13, 1906. I HAVE received a despatch from Mr. Hosie, Acting Commercial Attaché, who is now in Shanghae (copy of which I have the honour to inclose), transmitting copies of correspondence with Messrs. Alex. Ross and Co. regarding the piracy, for use in China, of a British trade-mark registered in England in 1886, by a Japanese merchant in Osaka,
The circumstances detailed in this correspondence show the urgent necessity for an Agreement with the Japanese Government for reciprocal protection of trade-marks in China, the absence of which cannot fail to render of small advantage to British owners of trade-marks any legislation by China herself upon this subject.
I have sent a copy of this despatch to His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Tôkið.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN,
(Signed)
Sir.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Mr. Hosie to Sir J. Jordan.
Shanghar, November 2, 1906.
I HAVE the honour to inclose copies of correspondence and other doenments regarding the piracy, for use in China, of a British trade-mark by a Japanese merchant in Osaka. This, the "crocodile " mark of Sir Elkanah Armitage and Sous, of Manchester, which was registered in England in 1886, has been copied in every detail and registered in Japan, and the main object of the piracy appears to be to dispose of the copy, whose purchaser would then endeavour to displace the old British mark by applying for the registration of the copy in China prior to the coming into force of Trade-marks Regulations, in the belief that the date of application, or the date of registration in Japan, will be the date from which the registration in China will take effect.
These documents show the urgent necessity for a reciprocal trade-marks protection Agreement with Japan and the retention of section 25 of the draft Trade-marks Regulations, or its insertion in any new Regulations that may be under discussion.
Sir,
I have, &c. (Signed) A. HOSIE,
Acting Commercial Attaché.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Messrs. A. Ross and Co. to Mr. Hosie.
Shanghae, November 1, 1906. WE inclose, for your perusal, a statement of facts regarding the infringement of Sir Elkanah Armitage and Sons' (Limited) "crocodile" mark by a Japanese nterchant in Osaka; also a copy of a letter from Mr. K. Sunagawa, barrister at Osaka, on the same subject. We shall be obliged if you will name a time when it may be convenient for you to receive a visit from our Mr. Ross in regard to this
matter.
We are, &c.
(Signed) ALEX. ROSS AND CO.
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