Dozens of Chinese firms apply to use ‘Ivanka’ as their trademark
At least 65 applications have been submitted for products ranging from supplements to alcohol and wallpaper
Dozens of Chinese businesses and individuals have submitted at least 65 applications to Beijing to use “Ivanka” as a trademark for their products, ranging from wallpaper to alcohol, according to the national trademark office.
Among them, a Beijing-based company that provides weight loss services filed 10 applications to use “Ivanka”, the name of the eldest daughter of US President Donald Trump, on products ranging from cosmetics to nutritional supplements, according to information released on the website of the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry & Commerce.
Another recent application was filed by Fujian Yingjie Commodity Company to use Ivanka for its brand of sanitary napkins a week after Trump won the US presidential election.
Most of the applications are still being processed and it is not known whether the trademark authority will give them the green light.
China’s laws and regulations permit businesses to use foreign names or the Chinese translations of such names as trademarks, leading to many transnational disputes and controversies.