With their capacity to increase company profits and boost the overall economy, trademark strategies are increasingly important to local governments across China.

The government of North China's Hebei province has issued policies to encourage companies to register their trademarks, granting a 300,000 yuan ($45,300) bonus for securing the status of well-known trademark.

A number of cities in the province are also giving cash for every well-known trademark.

The province has held more than 100 lectures and training programs to promote the trademark strategy since 2000. Nearly 2 million copies of various publications covering the issue have reached more than 5 million people.

The administration for industry and commerce of East China's Shandong province has held four training programs on trademark registration, operation and protection since last September that drew nearly 1,000 participants.

The Madrid international trademark registration system was among programs highlighted by the province. Handbooks have been issued to working staff at the trademark administration so they can better help local companies apply for international trademarks.

In the southwest of the nation, Chongqing municipality has cracked down on more than 1,200 trademark infringements valued at nearly 17 million yuan since 2008.

Chongqing now has 20 farm products that have been granted stautus for geographical indications (GI). Their combined output value hit 6.5 billion yuan last year.

More than 2 million local farmers are now growing those GI products.

The municipal administration for industry and commerce plans to increase the number of GI specialties to 23 next year.

The authorities in Central China's Hubei province also regard GIs as a key to promoting local farm products.

The province has developed a model that combines the interest of a company, a farming region and a trademark in a bid to spur market-oriented agriculture.

Caihua Tea Industry Co Ltd is one example. With the development of the Caihua trademark, the company has sharpened its competitive edge at the same time tea growers tripled their income from 2004 - when the trademark was adopted - to 2009.

China Daily

(China Daily 11/17/2010 page15)