As a powerful catalyst for economic growth and development, IP plays a key role in promoting scientific and technological innovation and achieving sustainable development in all walks of life. This year, April 26 marks the 24th World Intellectual Property Day, and the theme of the event is "Intellectual Property and the Sustainable Development Goals: Building a Common Future through Innovation and Creativity".
Taking this as an opportunity, on April 26, Lenzing Group and Nantong Haimen District Market Supervision and Administration Bureau jointly held the intellectual property day theme activity of "Guarding Home Textile Originality and Building a Better Future" in Nantong Dieshiqiao International Home Textile City Phase III, which fully demonstrated the importance of intellectual property, innovation and creation in promoting the development of the home textile industry. The event was hosted by the Market Supervision and Administration Bureau of Haimen District, Nantong City, and co-organized by the People's Government of Sanxing Town, Haimen District, Nantong City, Jiangsu Dieshiqiao Home Textile Industry Group, and Lenzing Fiber (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Leaders of Nantong Haimen District Municipal Supervision Bureau, General Manager of Lenzing (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Senior Commercial Director of Lenzing Group China, Hu Yanjun, Senior Director of Marketing & Brand Marketing of Lenzing Group, Harold Weghorst, Senior Director of Marketing & Brand Marketing of Lenzing Group, Cataldo Sabatelli, Head of Trademark and Brand Protection of Lenzing Group, Qi Yingbin, Chairman of Jiangsu Dasheng Group Co., Ltd., Lin Zongwen, general manager of Dongdixing Industrial Co., Ltd. (China), and other representatives of 100 home textile enterprises and chambers of commerce attended the event.
Moved by innovation, defending the rights of originality
Innovation is the fundamental driving force for the high-quality development and green development of the textile industry, and intellectual property protection is the lifeline of industrial development. Intellectual property protection plays a key role in promoting scientific and technological innovation and achieving sustainable development in the industry.
Haimen adheres to the guidance of innovation, service and cooperation, implements the strategy of strengthening the area with intellectual property rights, promotes the deep integration of intellectual property rights and industries, and sincerely invites Lenzing Group and other more enterprises to invest in Haimen, deeply cultivate Haimen, and create a better future. The Market Supervision and Administration Bureau of Haimen District, Nantong City, gave a detailed introduction to the remarkable achievements of intellectual property work in Haimen District in recent years, among which, in 2023, it helped Lenzing crack down on 5 trademark infringement cases and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises. The data of successful rights protection cases further enhanced the understanding and investment confidence of the enterprises present in Haimen.
Harold Weghorst, Senior Director Marketing & Brand Marketing at the Lenzing Group
As creators and users of its intellectual property rights, the Lenzing Group is also the backbone of intellectual property protection. "The Lenzing Group has been actively working to drive innovation, transparency and sustainability, with brand protection at the forefront. According to Harold Weghorst, Senior Head of Marketing & Brand Marketing at the Lenzing Group, respecting and protecting trademarks is not only a core value of the Lenzing Group, but also an unwavering commitment. To this end, the Group has set up a working group to crack down on infringement and launched a campaign to raise public awareness of counterfeit Tencel ™ ™ products and infringement of Tencel ™ trademarks. The Group will continue to take efficient and pragmatic measures to crack down on infringements, and calls on all parties in the industry to use the TENCEL ™ brand correctly, jointly safeguard trademark rights and interests, and protect the interests of partners in the value chain.
Qi Yingbin, chairman of Jiangsu Dasheng Group Co., Ltd
"Intellectual property is an important part of the core competitiveness of enterprises and an important guarantee for the innovation and development of enterprises. Qi Yingbin, chairman of Jiangsu Dasheng Group Co., Ltd., shared that in recent years, Dasheng Group has been focusing on low-carbon, environmental protection and green and intellectual property work of the entire textile industry chain, and deeply implemented the strategy of strengthening enterprises with intellectual property rights, which is highly consistent with the strategic concept of Lenzing Tencel ™ brand empowering sustainable development with technological innovation. ™
Wang Shuya, intellectual property legal counsel of Lenzing Fibers (Shanghai) Co., Ltd
In the case sharing session of intellectual property rights protection, the Haimen District Administration for Market Regulation took the case of infringement of the exclusive right to use a registered trademark of Lenzing Co., Ltd. by a business department in Haimen District as a typical example, and introduced the specific facts of the infringement of the merchant's unauthorized use of trademarks such as "Tencel". Wang Shuya, intellectual property legal counsel of Lenzing Fibers (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., analyzed the misunderstandings exposed in the case and elaborated and supplemented from two aspects: first, the confusion between brand and product name, and brand and product name are two different concepts, each with independent legal status and rights. Second, the use of Lenzing fibers is not the same as the use of the Lenzing trademark, which is the exclusive intellectual property of Lenzing Corporation, and any unauthorized use is an infringement.
Upstream and downstream synergy to form a protective synergy
In this era full of changes, it is the only way to safeguard the rights and interests of intellectual property rights by coordinating upstream and downstream with an open and cooperative attitude to form a joint force for protection. Only by building a close upstream and downstream cooperation mechanism to achieve resource sharing and complementary advantages can we effectively respond to new challenges in the field of intellectual property, jointly safeguard the fruits of innovation, and promote the sustainable prosperity and progress of the industry.
During the event, Cataldo Sabatelli, Head of Trademark & Brand Protection at Lenzing Group, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Nantong Haimen Market Supervision and Administration Bureau and presented a plaque of appreciation. He said that Nantong is a highland for the protection of intellectual property rights and a demonstration city for the protection of intellectual property rights. The Haimen Administration for Market Regulation has demonstrated a very high level of professionalism in terms of governance philosophy and comprehensive law enforcement. He looks forward to continuing to work closely with the Administration for Market Regulation in the future to jointly devote himself to the protection of intellectual property rights and contribute to the healthy development of the industry.
兰精集团商标与品牌保护负责人 Cataldo Sabatelli
"We will take this as a driving force to continue to strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights, create a more fair, transparent and predictable business environment, and make Haimen the first choice for foreign investment, and we also believe that foreign-funded enterprises will have better development prospects in Haimen," said the Nantong Haimen District Market Supervision and Administration Bureau after receiving the plaque.
Lin Zongwen, General Manager of Dongdixing Industrial Co., Ltd. (China).
Lin Zongwen, General Manager of Dongdixing Industrial Co., Ltd. (China), a close partner of Lenzing Group, emphasized the indispensability of intellectual property rights, including patterns, product designs, packaging and trademarks. At the same time, he expressed his deep understanding and respect for the Lenzing Group's trademark licensing process, especially with regard to the correct use of the Tencel ™ trademark. Through in-depth communication with the Lenzing Group, he realized the importance of the trademark licensing process, which protects customers who use their fibers authentically, as well as fair competition in the market and the legitimate rights and interests of consumers.
Li Qi, Head of Marketing & Brand Marketing at Lenzing China
™ Li Qi, Head of Marketing and Brand Marketing of Lenzing China, elaborated on the guidelines for the use of the TENCEL ™ brand and trademarks. She pointed out that Tencel, ™ as the flagship textile brand of the Lenzing Group, is protected by the Trademark Law, and can only be used by the Lenzing Group and its authorization, and may bear corresponding legal liabilities for unauthorized use. Lenzing has established a robust verification, certification and licensing system designed to protect Tencel ™ trademarks and help supply chain partners verify the authenticity of their products. The electronic brand service system launched by the Lenzing Group simplifies the application and certification process, and provides comprehensive material support to help partners gain a deeper understanding of the TENCEL ™ trademark, improve marketing effectiveness, and create a better future together.
The road to the protection of the Tencel ™ trademark is long and arduous. The Lenzing Group is a trusted and long-term partner to all participants in the textile supply chain, always striving to bring the latest wood-based fiber innovations to market and lead the industry. At the same time, the Lenzing Group is well aware of the importance of intellectual property and trademark protection, and actively works with many partners to protect the TENCEL ™ trademark to safeguard the rights and interests of partners and consumers in China's textile value chain.