Regulations on the Administration of Special Signs (Promulgated by Decree No.202 of the State Council of the People's Republic of
China on July 13, 1996)
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 These Regulations are formulated for the purposes of strengthening the administration of special signs, promoting the development of culture, physical culture, scientific research and other non-profit social activities and protecting the lawful rights of customers and the owners and users of special signs.
Article 2 Special signs referred to in these Regulations mean such signs as titles and their abbreviations, emblems and mascots composed of words and designs and used for national or international cultural, physical cultural, scientific research or other non-profit social activities held with the approval of the State Council.
Article 3 Special signs approved and registered by the administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council shall be protected by these Regulations.
Article 4 Special signs composed of words and designs containing any of the following contents shall not be registered:
(1) those detrimental to the dignity or image of the country or any international organization;
(2) those harmful to benign social customs and public order;
(3) those with national discrimination and detrimental to the unity of nationalities;
(4) those lacking distinctiveness and not easy to identify; and
(5) other contents forbidden by laws or regulations.
Article 5 Funds raised by owners of special signs through using or licensing others to use the special signs must be used for the non-profit social undertakings which the special signs serve and shall be subject to supervision by the departments of finance and auditing under the State Council.
Chapter II Registration of Special Signs
Article 6 Organizers or those in charge of the preparatory work of non-profit social activities shall submit an application for registration to the administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council with respect to such special signs as titles, emblems or mascots they use for the aforesaid activities and require to be protected.
The application for registration can be filed directly or by an entrusted agent.
Article 7 An application form for registration of special signs shall be filled in and the following documents be presented while filing an application for registration of a special sign:
(1) the State Council's document approving such non-profit social activities;
(2) conditions and control measures for permitting others to use the special sign;
(3) five prototypes of the special sign and one copy of the design in black and white. The prototypes should be clear and easy to stick and made of durable glossy paper or be photographs as substitute, with its length and width no more than ten centimeters and no less than five centimeters;
(4) a letter of authorization with clear indication of matters entrusted and the scope of the power of agency, if the application is entrusted to an agent; and
(5) other documents which the administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council requires to be presented.
Article 8 On receipt of an application, the administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council shall handle things in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) Where the application conforms to the relevant provisions of these Regulations and the application papers are considered complete and correct, issue a notice of acceptance of the application for the registration of special signs within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the application and, within two months from the date of the issuance of the notice, make an entry in the register of special signs of matters related to the special sign, the prototype of the special sign and commodities and services examined and approved for use of the special sign, and issue a certificate of registration of special signs.
An announcement shall be made by the administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council upon registration of the special sign after examination and approval.
(2) In cases where the application papers are found to be incomplete or incorrect, issue a notice of making supplementation or correction for the application for registration of special signs within ten days from the date of receipt of the application and meanwhile require the applicant to make supplementation or correction within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the notice and, when no supplement or correction has been made within the time limit or the application papers remain incomplete or incorrect after the supplementation or correction, issue a notice of non-acceptance of the application for registration of special signs.
(3) In cases where the application is found to be in contravention of the provisions stipulated in Article 4 of these Regulations, issue a notice of rejection of the application for registration of special signs within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the application. Applicant who calls in question the notice of rejection may, within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the notice of rejection, apply to the administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council for reconsideration.
Notices mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be served to the applicants or their agents by the administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council. In case of failure of direct service due to unforeseen reasons, the date twenty days after the date of announcement or sending by post by the administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council shall be construed as the date of service.
Article 9 The validity of special signs shall be four years, counting from the date of registration after examination and approval.
Owners of special signs may apply for extension within three months before the expiry of validity. The duration of extension shall be determined by the administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council in the light of actual needs and conditions.
Changes of addresses of the owners of special signs shall be reported to the administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council for record within one month from the date of the change.
Article 10 Where any special sign already approved for registration falls under any of the following circumstances, any unit or individual may, during the period from the date of the announcement of the special sign to the expiry of its validity, request the administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council to declare the registration of the special sign to be null and void by stating reasons and providing corresponding evidences:
(1) It is identical with or similar to any special sign the application of which precedes;
(2) It is identical with or similar to any trademark the application of which for registration precedes or any of those already registered;
(3) It is identical with or similar to any design the application of which for patent precedes or any of those which have already acquired the patent according to law; or
(4) It results in infringement upon other person's copyright.
Article 11 The administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council shall, within ten days from the date of receipt of the application for nullifying the registration of special signs, notify the respondent thereof and require him to give reply
within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the notice.
The respondent's refusal to give reply or failure to give reply within the time period set for the reply without justifiable reasons shall be deemed as abandonment of the right to make reply.
Article 12 The administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council shall make a decision and notify it to the parties concerned within three months from the date of receipt of the application for nullifying the registration of special signs; the party refusing to accept the decision may, within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the notice, apply to the administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council for reconsideration.
Chapter III Use and Protection of Special Signs
Article 13 Owners of special signs may use the signs on advertisements, souvenirs and other items related to the non-profit activities and license others to use the signs on commodities and services as examined and approved by the administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council.
Article 14 Users of special signs shall be enterprises, institutions, social organizations and individual businesses established in accordance with the law.
Users of special signs shall conclude a written licensing contract with the owners.
Users of special signs shall, within one month from the date of the signing of the contract, submit one copy of the contract to the administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council for filing and submit another copy of the same to the administrative department for industry and commerce of the people's government at or above the county level of the place where the user is located for reference.
Article 15 If any owner or user of a special sign has committed any of the following acts, the administrative department for industry and commerce of the people's government at or above the county level of the place where the owner or user is located or where the act has taken place shall order a correction and may impose a fine up to 50,000 Yuan; if the circumstances are serious, the administrative department for industry and commerce of the people's government at or above the county level shall order the user to stop the use of the special sign, and the administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council shall cancel the owner's registration of the special sign:
(1) alter the words or designs of the special sign without authorization;
(2) license other persons to use the special sign without conclusion of a licensing contract, or users fail to submit the contract, within the time period prescribed, to the administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council for filing or to the administrative department for industry and commerce of the local people's
government at or above the county level for reference; or
(3) use the special sign for commodities or services other than those registered with the approval for the use.
Article 16 In case of any of the following acts, the administrative department for industry and commerce of the people's government at or above the county level shall order the infringer to stop immediately the act of infringement, confiscate the commodities involved in the infringement as well as the illegal earnings and impose a fine not exceeding five times the illegal earnings, or not exceeding 10,000 Yuan when there is no illegal earnings:
(1) use, without authorization, words or designs or combinations thereof identical with or similar to any special signs owned by other persons;
(2) produce or sell special signs or use them in commercial activities without licensed by the owner; or
(3) other acts which cause economic loss to the owners of special signs.
Article 17 Owners and users of special signs may, on discovery of infringement upon the ownership of or the right to use the special signs, lodge a complaint with the administrative department for industry and commerce of the people's government at or above the county level of the place where the infringer is located or where the act of infringement has taken place, or directly file a lawsuit with the people's court.
The administrative department for industry and commerce which accepts the complaint of special sign infringement shall, at the request of the owner of the special sign, conduct mediation with respect to civil compensation for the infringement; the owner of the special sign may file a lawsuit with the people's court upon failure of the mediation.
Article 18 The administrative department for industry and commerce which accepts the case of special sign infringement may, in the investigation and evidence-gathering, exercise the following powers, and the persons concerned must provide assistance:
(1) question the parties concerned;
(2) inspect the articles related to the infringement activities;
(3) investigate the acts related to the infringement activities; and
(4) consult or make copies of contracts, accounting books or other business records.
Chapter IV Supplementary Provisions
Article 19 The schedule of fees for application, announcement and registration of special signs shall be formulated by the departments of finance and price control under the State Council in conjunction with the administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council.
Article 20 The forms of the documents of application for registration of special signs shall be formulated by the administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council.
Article 21 Reference shall be made to the provisions of these Regulations in the implementation of protection of such signs as the titles, emblems and mascots used by organizations which are permitted by the State Council to represent China in international cultural, physical cultural and scientific research activities.
Article 22 These Regulations shall enter into force as of the date of promulgation.
中华人民共和国国务院令 （第２０２号）
现发布《特殊标志管理条例》，自发布 之日起施行。 总理 李鹏 １９９６年７月１３日 特殊标志管理条例
第一章 总则
第一条 为了加强对特殊标志的管理，推动文化、体育、科学研究及其他社会公益活动的发展，保 护特殊标志所有人、使用人和消费者的合法权益，制定本条例。
第二条 本条例所称特殊标志，是指经国务院批准举办的全国性和国际性的文化、体育、科学研究及其他社会公益活动所使用的，由文 字、图形组成的名称及缩写、会徽、吉祥物等标志。
第三 条 经国务院工商行政管理部门核准登记的特殊标志，受本条例保护。
第四条 含有下列内容的文字、图形组成的特殊标志，不予登记： （一）有损于国家 或者国际组织的尊严或者形象的； （二）有害于社会善良习俗和公共秩序的； （三）带有民族歧视性，不利于民族团结的； （四）缺乏显著性，不便于识别的； （五）法律、行政法规禁止的其他内容。
第五条 特殊标志所有人使用或者许可他人使用特殊标志所募集的资金，必须用于特殊标志所服务 的社会公益事业，并接受国务院财政部门、审计部门的监督。
第二章 特殊标志的登记
第六条 举办社会公益活动的组织者或者筹备者对其使用的名 称、会徽、吉祥物等特殊标志，需要保护的，应当向国务院工商行政管理部门提出登记申请。 登记申请可以直接办理，也可以委托他人代理。
第七条 申请特殊标志登记，应当填写特殊标志登记申请书并 提交下列文件： （一）国务院批准举办该社会公益活动的文件； （二）准许他人使用特殊标志的条件及管理办法； （三）特 殊标志图样５份，黑白墨稿１份。图样应当清晰，便于粘贴，用光洁耐用的纸张印制或者用照片代替，长和宽不大于１０厘米、不小于５厘米； （四） 委托他人代理的，应当附代理人委托书，注明委托事项和权限； （五）国务院工商行政管理部门认为应当提交的其他文件。
第八条 国务院工商行政管理部门收到申请后，按照以下规定 处理： （一）符合本条例有关规定，申请文件齐备无误的，自收到申请之日起１５日内，发给特殊标志登记申请受理通知书，并在发出通知之日起２个 月内，将特殊标志有关事项、图样和核准使用的商品和服务项目，在特殊标志登记簿上登记，发给特殊标志登记证书。 特殊标志经核准登记后，由国务 院工商行政管理部门公告。 （二）申请文件不齐备或者有误的，自收到申请之日起１０日内发给特殊标志登记申请补正通知书，并限其自收到通知之日 起１５日内予以补正，期满不补正或者补正仍不符合规定的，发给特殊标志登记申请不予受理通知书。 （三）违反本条例第四条规定的，自收到申请之 日起１５日内发给特殊标志登记申请驳回通知书。申请人对驳回通知不服的，可以自收到驳回通知之日起１５日内，向国务院工商行政管理部门申请复议。 前款所列各类通知书，由国务院工商行政管理部门送达申请人或者其代理人。因故不能直接送交的，以国务院工商行政管理部门公告或者邮寄之日起的２０日为送 达日期。
第九条 特殊标志有效 期为４年，自核准登记之日起计算。 特殊标志所有人可以在有效期满前３个月内提出延期申请，延长的期限由国务院工商行政管理部门根据实际情况和 需要决定。 特殊标志所有人变更地址，应当自变更之日起１个月内报国务院工商行政管理部门备案。
第十条 已获准登记的特殊标志有下列情形之一的，任何单位 和个人可以在特殊标志公告刊登之日至其有效期满的期间，向国务院工商行政管理部门申明理由并提供相应证据，请求宣告特殊标志登记无效： （一） 同已在先申请的特殊标志相同或者近似的； （二）同已在先申请注册的商标或者已获得注册的商标相同或者近似的； （三）同已在先申请 外观设计专利或者已依法取得专利权的外观设计专利相同或者近似的； （四）侵犯他人著作权的。
第十一条 国务院工商行政管理部门自收到特殊标志登记无效申请之日起１０日内，通知被申请 人并限其自收到通知之日起１５日内作出答辩。 被申请人拒绝答辩或者无正当理由超过答辩期限的，视为放弃答辩的权利。
第十二条 国务院工商行政管理部门自收到特殊标志登记无 效申请之日起３个月内作出裁定，并通知当事人；当事人对裁定不服的，可以自收到通知之日起１５日内，向国务院工商行政管理部门申请复议。
第三章 特殊标志的使用与保护
第十三条 特殊标志所有人可以在与其公益活动相关的广告、 纪念品及其他物品上使用该标志，并许可他人在国务院工商行政管理部门核准使用该标志的商品或者服务项目上使用。
第十四条 特殊标志的使用人应当是依法成立的企业、事业单 位、社会团体、个体工商户。 特殊标志使用人应当同所有人签订书面使用合同。 特殊标志使用人应当自合同签订之日起１个月内，将合同 副本报国务院工商行政管理部门备案，并报使用人所在地县级以上人民政府工商行政管理部门存查。
第十五条 特殊标志所有人或者使用人有下列行为之一的，由其所在地或者行为发生地县级以上 人民政府工商行政管理部门责令改正，可以处５万元以下的罚款；情节严重的，由县级以上人民政府工商行政管理部门责令使用人停止使用该特殊标志，由国务院工 商行政管理部门撤销所有人的特殊标志登记： （一）擅自改变特殊标志文字、图形的； （二）许可他人使用特殊标志，未签订使用合同， 或者使用人在规定期限内未报国务院工商行政管理部门备案或者未报所在地县级以上人民政府工商行政管理机关存查的； （三）超出核准登记的商品或 者服务范围使用的。
第十六条 有下列行为之一的，由县级以上人民政府工商行政管理部门责令侵权人立即停止侵权行为，没收侵权商品，没收违法所得，并处违法所得５倍以下的罚款，没有违法 所得的，处１万元以下的罚款： （一）擅自使用与所有人的特殊标志相同或者近似的文字、图形或者其组合的； （二）未经特殊标志所有 人许可，擅自制造、销售其特殊标志或者将其特殊标志用于商业活动的； （三）有给特殊标志所有人造成经济损失的其他行为的。
第十七条 特殊标志所有人或者使用人发现特殊标志所有权 或者使用权被侵害时，可以向侵权人所在地或者侵权行为发生地县级以上人民政府工商行政管理部门投诉；也可以直接向人民法院起诉。 工商行政管理 部门受理特殊标志侵权案件投诉的，应当依特殊标志所有人的请求，就侵权的民事赔偿主持调解；调解不成的，特殊标志所有人可以向人民法院起诉。
第十八条 工商行政管理部门受理特殊标志侵权案件，在调 查取证时，可以行使下列职权，有关当事人应当予以协助，不得拒绝： （一）询问有关当事人； （二）检查与侵权活动有关的物品； （三）调查与侵权活动有关的行为； （四）查阅、复制与侵权活动有关的合同、帐册等业务资料。
第四章 附则
第十九条 特殊标志申请费、公告费、登记费的收费标准，由国务院财政部门、物价部门会同国务院工商行政管理部门制定。