Dispute resolved after entrepreneur gives back trademark rights
One of the biggest ingredients in the success of Tai Cheong Bakery is its name - but former governor Chris Patten's favourite egg-tart store almost lost the right to use it recently.
Alexander Li Shing-kuen, who helped Au Yeung Tin-yun reopen the Lyndhurst Terrace bakery after a 110 per cent rent rise forced it to shut in May, was shocked to discover that its trademark had been registered by film director Alfred Cheung Kin-ting without its knowledge.
'We were not aware that we needed to register the trademark,' Mr Li said. 'Mr Au Yeung is from an older generation. He doesn't know anything about intellectual property. He thought that he's been using the name for decades so it must be his.
'It's a good trademark, so many people would want it. Mr Au Yeung worried that people could use the brand and produce bad tarts. That would ruin [Tai Cheong's] reputation.'
The bakery's owners were then approached by Cheung, who registered the Tai Cheong trademark days after the shop closed.