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This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government}
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
:
[24871]
No. 1.
[July 26.]
SECTION 2.
Sir,
China Association to Foreign Office.-(Received July 26.)
189, Cannon Street, London, July 25, 1907. I HAVE the honour to inform you that the China Association has received many further complaints of infringement by Japanese traders of British and other foreign trade-marks. It appears that the China markets are being flooded with Japanese goods bearing devices which are in some instances facsimiles, in others colourable imitations, of British trade-marks. China has no trade-mark laws, and no legal protection exists against the infringement of marks which have become by prescription and priority of user identified with articles supplied by certain manufacturers and
firms.
Pending the promulgation of Trade-marks Regulations by China, the Japanese Government will not give its adherence to the arrangement or modus vivendi existing between the other Great Powers, whereby the trade-marks of their subjects are afforded the protection of the Consular Courts.
The Committee of the China Association desire to submit for the consideration of His Majesty's Government the desirability of inducing the Japanese Government to accept the conditions of the modus vivendi before any regulations are issued for the registration of foreign trade-marks in China; otherwise the Committee feel convinced that Japanese, claiming priority of application, will register as their own marks which have been regarded hitherto as the exclusive property of British merchants, and which have been respected by their foreign competitors for a great number of years.
I have, &c. (Signed) C. GRENVILLE ALABASTER,
[2664 cc-
-2]
Secretary.