Rush to register bin Laden trademark rebuffed

The name Osama bin Laden might evoke thoughts of terror, but to some imaginations it means trademarks and business.

Just a few hours after news of his death was announced on May 2, scores of businesspeople in Yiwu, Zhejiang province inquired about filing applications to trademark his name.

"Nearly 20 shopkeepers have consulted me so far about the issue," said Xu Jie, director of a local trademark agency.

"There are more than 30 trademark agencies here, and as far as I know, more than 100 shopkeepers recently had the same idea," Xu said.

Most of the hopeful trademark applicants were young and often involved in online sales, he said.

"Online shopkeepers account for a large proportion. They wanted to use it mainly for toys and masks," he added.

But the queries weren't limited to the name bin Laden. They included a wide range of Chinese translations including La Dan, La Deng, Ben La Dan and Ben La Deng, while Ji Di - Chinese for al-Qaeda - was also of interest.

Chen Zhiye, who runs an online shop selling masks, said he has actually filed for the trademark La Dan.

He sells masks depicting a number of world celebrities including bin Laden.

"They have been popular in Brazil and Mexico these years," Chen said. "But the sales volume is relatively small domestically, so the eye-catching trademark of La Dan would certainly promote my business."

In addition to toys and masks, the image of bin Laden has also been used for car stickers, ashtrays and small dolls, he said.

But potential trademark applicants "will not get the answer they want", said Xu Jie.

"Such applications are not within the framework of China's Trademark Law, so I advised them give it up," he said.

Goods that might do harm to public morality and have other negative effects cannot be trademarked, according to the law.

In fact, the potential Yiwu applicants were not the first.

In 2001, a Nanjing company tried to register a bin Laden trademark for clothing and a Guangzhou firm filed for shampoo and make-up, according to the China Trademark network. Both were rejected.

China Daily

(China Daily 05/25/2011 page17)