Anime News

Crayon Shin-Chan Merchandising Row In China
Date: 2/22/2005
Genuine Futaba licensed Crayon Shin-Chan shoes have been removed from stores in China cited as "Infringing Trademark" by the Chinese government because the trademark had already been registered to a domestic company that copies designs. The company has demanded the cancellation of the registration of trademark to authorities in January this year. Officially licensed Shin-Chan Comics only began selling in China from 2002. Apparantly the Chinese firm succeeded in registering the trademark without permission by the Japanese rights holders in 1997. Futaba began selling the genuine licnesed goods last April in China and their goods stocks were confiscated in several places after the license was assumed to be "Infringing Trademark" in July.
Source: Anime News Service