商标代理与诉讼

ROTORWAY 商标被抢注及维权案

    1956 年创立的美国直升机品牌 ROTORWAY，凭借独特设计和卓越性能，在全球范围内收获了极高的声誉与众多拥趸。然而，这个知名品牌在中国市场却遭遇了棘手的商标抢注难题。

 早在 2007 年，自然人林某某便盯上了 ROTORWAY 商标，抢先在国内完成注册，为后续一系列恶意行为埋下伏笔。2015 年，当中方企业有意收购 ROTORWAY 品牌，准备大力开拓中国市场时，林某某变本加厉，短短几年间，又恶意补充注册了 7 枚与 ROTORWAY 相关的商标，最后一枚商标注册于 2021 年。不仅如此，林某某在直升机领域，他更是抢注了诸多与国外知名直升机品牌相同或近似的商标，如 “超级美洲狮”“超级美洲狮 superpuma”“鲁宾逊”“罗宾逊”“罗宾逊 robinson”“西科斯基 cicsky”“西科基斯”“robinsun”“soperpuma”“supepuma” 等多达 27 个。其行为明显超出正常经营所需，恶意囤积商标意图昭然若揭。

 面对这一复杂严峻的局面，中国InnoWit知识产权团队接受委托后，迅速投入工作，制定了一套缜密且针对性强的商标夺回方案。团队深入研究每一个抢注商标的注册细节，梳理时间线，分析可能存在的法律漏洞。

 经过标程团队坚持不懈的努力，最终成功协助客户取得了被抢注的 “ROTORWAY” 商标，逐一清除了阻碍品牌发展的商标障碍。这一成果不仅让 ROTORWAY 品牌得以在中国市场顺利布局，维护了品牌的合法权益，也有力打击了恶意抢注商标的不良行为，为市场营造了更加公平、有序的竞争环境。

 Case Study: Trademark Hijacking and Recovery of ROTORWAY in China  

 Founded in 1956, the American helicopter brand ROTORWAY has gained global acclaim and a loyal following for its innovative designs and superior performance. However, the brand faced a significant challenge in the Chinese market due to trademark squatting—a critical issue that our intellectual property team successfully addressed.  

 The Trademark Hijacking Incident  

 As early as 2007, a natural person named Lin (Mr. Lin) preemptively registered the ROTORWAY trademark in China, laying the groundwork for subsequent malicious activities. In 2015, when a Chinese enterprise planned to acquire the ROTORWAY brand and expand into the Chinese market, Mr. Lin escalated his actions. Over several years, he maliciously supplemented 7 additional trademark registrations related to ROTORWAY, with the last one filed in 2021.  

    His misconduct extended beyond ROTORWAY: in the helicopter sector, he registered 27 trademarks identical or similar to renowned international helicopter brands, including "超级美洲狮" ("Super Puma"), "鲁宾逊/罗宾逊" ("Robinson"), "西科斯基" ("Sikorsky"), and misspelled variants like "cicsky," "robinsun," and "supepuma." These actions clearly exceeded normal business needs, demonstrating a deliberate intent to hoard trademarks for improper gains.  

 Strategic Recovery by InnoWit IP Team  

 Upon being entrusted with this case, the Chinese InnoWit intellectual property team swiftly developed a meticulous and targeted strategy to reclaim the trademark. The team conducted in-depth research into the registration details of each hijacked trademark, reconstructed the timeline of events, and identified potential legal vulnerabilities in the squatting claims.  

    Through persistent efforts, our team successfully assisted the client in recovering the hijacked ROTORWAY trademark and systematically eliminating all trademark obstacles hindering the brand’s development. This achievement not only enabled ROTORWAY to establish a smooth presence in the Chinese market and protect its legitimate rights but also sent a strong message against malicious trademark squatting, contributing to a fairer and more orderly competitive environment.  

 Why Choose Us?  

    This case exemplifies our expertise in navigating China’s complex trademark landscape. We specialize in:  

 Strategic trademark enforcement against squatting and unfair competition.  

 Comprehensive legal analysis to identify vulnerabilities in invalidation/opposition proceedings.  

 Cross-border brand protection for international clients expanding into China.  

Let us help your brand thrive in China—contact us today to safeguard your intellectual property rights.