Ping An Insurance regains trademark in Hong Kong

China Ping An Insurance Group, on January 14, announced that the Court of Appeal of the Hong Kong High Court ruled in its favor, entitling it to trademark rights of 平安 (pronounced ping an) and Ping An.

The contending party is Hong Kong－based Ping An Securities Company. The securities company used the brand Ping An prior to the insurance company. When the securities company filed an application for trademark registration of 平安 and Ping An with the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department in July 2004, it was informed the two marks had been registered by the insurance company. The securities company then lodged litigation on the ground of prior use. The Court of First Instance concurred with the plaintiff in that ground and ruled against the insurance company, rendering the securities company ownership of the rights. Ping An Insurance appealed and would later claim back the ownership．