Most int'l trademarks sought in China, Russia - UN
GENEVA, March 15 (Reuters) - China and Russia were the top targets for companies seeking international trademark protection last year, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) said on Thursday.
The United Nations agency said businesses filed a record 36,471 applications in 2006 to safeguard their trademarked goods in key export markets, up 9 percent from the year before.
Top filers included consumer goods makers Nestle (NESN.VX), Unilever (ULVR.L)(UNc.AS) and Henkel (HNKG_p.DE), electronics groups Siemens (SIEGn.DE) and Philips (PHG.AS)(PHG.N), as well as pharmaceutical firms Novartis (NOVN.VX) and Janssen, a unit of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N).
German discount supermarket chain Lidl was the largest single applicant for international trademark protection and its competitor Aldi also featured among the top 10.
Trademark protection was requested most often for China, which was also the most-designated country under WIPO's so-called Madrid System in 2005, followed by Russia, Switzerland, the United States and Japan.
Chinese companies also sought trademark protection abroad for their goods. China Network Communications and Shanghai Tyre and Rubber (900909.SS) were the top international trademark filers from developing countries last year.
Other emerging-nation applicants included Moroccan phone operator Maroc Telecom (IAM.PA)(IAM.CS) and Singapore's Asia Pacific Breweries, which makes Tiger Beer.
Under WIPO's Madrid System, companies can file one application to have a trademark protected in up to 79 countries, preventing others from using the same brand for their goods.
