R is the abbreviation of REGISTER, which means registered trademark when used in trademarks. The regulations for the implementation of China's Trademark Law stipulate that the use of registered trademarks can indicate "registered trademarks" or registration marks on commodities, commodity packages, instructions or other attachments. Registration marks include (note plus ) and (r plus ). The use of registration marks shall be marked in the upper right corner or the lower right corner of the trademark.
Therefore, TM and R are trademarks of different countries, and there is no special relationship. Some domestic companies do not understand the legal provisions and blindly imitate American companies and use TM marks on trademarks.
Now many pharmaceutical companies use TM trademark to mislead consumers, so it is best to look for R mark when buying drugs.
In recent years, some enterprises have publicized their TM(TradeMark) in drug advertisements, and some provincial (autonomous regions and municipalities) drug regulatory authorities have approved such advertisements to promote TM trademark, which have been filed with the national drug regulatory authorities. But recently, the reporter learned from the relevant departments that the packaging, labels and instructions of drugs with TM logo trademarks are no longer filed.
trademarks with TM shall not be used as registered trademarks
According to the regulations of the State Food and Drug Administration, trademarks with TM logo have not been registered, and belong to logos, characters and patterns without any approval. According to the requirements of the Provisional Regulations on the Administration of Labels and Instructions for Drug Packaging, they shall not be used as registered trademarks in drug packaging and labels without authorization.
Our province will no longer record trademarks with TM logo
To this end, Jilin Food and Drug Administration has also issued a notice, which pointed out that the provincial bureau will no longer record drug packaging, labels and instructions with TM logo; Before the national bureau has made clear provisions, the packaging, labels and instructions of trademarks with TM logo approved by the provincial bureau can continue to be used.
TM only means that it has applied to the State Trademark Office.
According to industry insiders, TM trademark does not protect trademarks in China. TM means that the trademark has been applied to the State Trademark Office, and the State Trademark Office has issued a Notice of Acceptance, which has entered an objection period. This can prevent others from applying repeatedly, and also means that existing trademark holders have the priority to use it. The examination and approval procedures of national drug trademarks and the time it takes are usually within 18 months. Due to the time, many drug manufacturers often take TM before formal approval.
people in the industry remind consumers that because American trademarks are usually marked with TM, in China, they only indicate that they have applied for trademark registration, but they have not obtained a trademark registration certificate; R (abbreviation of R(Register) really means that it is a registered trademark. Therefore, when purchasing drugs, beware of salespeople exaggerating the curative effect in the name of TM, thus being misled and cheated.