Phantom Blooper
09-22-05, 11:43 AM
MARK MAGNIER; Los Angeles Times
Published: September 22nd, 2005 12:01 AM
BEIJING – A new line of condoms is grabbing headlines in China even as its sparks a debate about trademark law and promotion campaigns. The products’ brand names: “Clinton” and “Lewinsky.”
The condoms are sold in boxes of 12, with the brand named after former President Clinton priced at $3.70 and that of former White House intern Monica Lewinsky at $2.25.
Guangzhou Haojian Bioscience Co. said it registered both trademarks and is pricing the brands differently to reflect the higher quality of the Clinton line.
“We chose the name because we think Clinton is a symbol of success and a man of responsibility. And Lewinsky is a woman who dares to love and dares to hate,” said Liu Wenhua, the company’s general manager.
“We haven’t told Clinton about this yet, but maybe you could help us find him,” Liu added. “We’d like to tell him how respected he is in China, so we can boost his confidence and help his career.”
Liu said he settled on the Clinton name after a year of research sparked by the news that the former president had been named to head an international initiative to combat HIV and AIDS.
Some of the other names he considered and rejected included “First Night,” “18 Years Old” and “I Miss You.” They didn’t have the same aura of respectability, he said.
Liu added that because the names were registered with the central government’s trademark office, he didn’t anticipate any legal problems.
But Zheng Zhangjun, a trademark attorney with the Fengshi law firm in Beijing, said given Clinton’s fame and the evident intent to use it for commercial gain, the former president would have a good case to register the name as his own and thus block Liu from using it.
Published: September 22nd, 2005 12:01 AM
BEIJING – A new line of condoms is grabbing headlines in China even as its sparks a debate about trademark law and promotion campaigns. The products’ brand names: “Clinton” and “Lewinsky.”
The condoms are sold in boxes of 12, with the brand named after former President Clinton priced at $3.70 and that of former White House intern Monica Lewinsky at $2.25.
Guangzhou Haojian Bioscience Co. said it registered both trademarks and is pricing the brands differently to reflect the higher quality of the Clinton line.
“We chose the name because we think Clinton is a symbol of success and a man of responsibility. And Lewinsky is a woman who dares to love and dares to hate,” said Liu Wenhua, the company’s general manager.
“We haven’t told Clinton about this yet, but maybe you could help us find him,” Liu added. “We’d like to tell him how respected he is in China, so we can boost his confidence and help his career.”
Liu said he settled on the Clinton name after a year of research sparked by the news that the former president had been named to head an international initiative to combat HIV and AIDS.
Some of the other names he considered and rejected included “First Night,” “18 Years Old” and “I Miss You.” They didn’t have the same aura of respectability, he said.
Liu added that because the names were registered with the central government’s trademark office, he didn’t anticipate any legal problems.
But Zheng Zhangjun, a trademark attorney with the Fengshi law firm in Beijing, said given Clinton’s fame and the evident intent to use it for commercial gain, the former president would have a good case to register the name as his own and thus block Liu from using it.