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Read the latest press releases about Bluetooth wireless technology from the Bluetooth SIG.
AUTHORITIES RAID CHINESE FACTORY SUSPECTED OF INFRINGING ON BLUETOOTH SIG REGISTERED TRADEMARKS
26-Sep-2006
Bluetooth SIG
Protecting registered trademarks crucial for the future of product innovation
SHENZHEN, CHINA – September 26, 2006 – The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) announced a successful raid against a factory in Shenzhen suspected of infringing upon the Bluetooth SIG’s registered trademarks by manufacturing Bluetooth products bearing the Bluetooth trademark and logo without the authority of the mark owner, Bluetooth SIG, and without going through the Bluetooth Qualification Program. The Bluetooth trademarks (word mark, figure mark and combination mark) are globally owned and registered by the Bluetooth SIG.
With full support of the mainland Chinese government authorities from Shenzhen, the raid was jointly conducted by the Shenzhen City Economic Crime Investigation Department of the Public Security Bureau (PSB) and the Administration of Industries and Commerce (AIC) of Shenzhen.
Over 20,000 pieces of finished and semi-goods comprising of headsets with Bluetooth technology, user manuals, packaging, printed boxes and components were seized from the manufacturing facility of Shenzhen Bluebird Hi-Tech. Co. Ltd., the company under investigation for the manufacturing and assembling of unqualified products infringing upon the trademarks.
“Bluetooth wireless technology is a globally accepted standard in which Bluetooth qualification is a necessary prerequisite of the Bluetooth technology IP license and applying the applicable Bluetooth trademark to a product. By bypassing qualification and tests, it is unfair not only to Bluetooth SIG members who have conformed to the Bluetooth Qualification Program but also to consumers, who often end up buying poor quality grade products that have not met the Bluetooth specification requirements or passed interoperability testing. Our goal is to encourage companies to qualify their Bluetooth products and educate them that infringing upon property owned by someone or by another organization, regardless of origin or country, is wrong,” said Michael Foley, Ph.D., executive director of the Bluetooth SIG.
“We hope to raise the awareness of IP and trademarks in China with regards to Bluetooth technology, but also encourage companies to generally respect IP, copyrights and trademarks. Protecting IP and trademarks will help companies around the world, particularly here in Asia Pacific where there is such great product innovation, develop exciting new qualified Bluetooth devices that enhance wireless convenience for all consumers,“ added Foley.
Asia Pacific comprises more than half the world’s number of Bluetooth SIG Associate and Promoter Members, with over 50 percent of Bluetooth products qualified in the region. Seven of the top 10 qualifying Bluetooth Qualification Bodies, which provides services to members seeking Bluetooth product qualification, for 2005 are based in the Asia Pacific region.
China ranks among the top three countries in the region in terms of Bluetooth SIG membership, with this number expected to grow steadily in the coming years. The Bluetooth SIG is educating and training Bluetooth manufacturers worldwide about the Bluetooth qualification program to improve conformance, testing and interoperability towards Bluetooth specifications. The program also provides members who meet this standard of testing with the recognition that their products represent high reliability and quality toward interoperating with Bluetooth products from other manufacturers and meeting the usability demands of consumers.
“As in any country, the fight against IP and trademark infringement will be a long-term and challenging one,” said Mr. Daoxin Ou, Header of Trademark & Advertisement Department, Shenzhen Administration for Industry & Commerce Futian Branch. “But one thing is certain, China is committed to the fight against IP and trademark infringement. This is vital to ensure the rights of authorized Bluetooth products and other kinds of products from other manufacturers, and for the continued innovation of great new products that originate from China.”
In an ongoing effort and separate from the above-mentioned raid, the Bluetooth SIG works with various Customs agencies and offices around the world, including Australia, South Korea and the United States, to determine if companies transferring products across borders are Bluetooth SIG members. The Bluetooth SIG and Customs agencies also work to ensure products are manufactured and transferred to licensees, and that the products are qualified. By registering our trademarks, Customs officials notify the Bluetooth SIG when Bluetooth products passing through customs are suspected of being counterfeit products. The Bluetooth SIG is currently working to register the Bluetooth trademarks in several countries in the European Union as well.
As a neutral, non-profit trade association on behalf of the world’s Bluetooth manufacturers, the Bluetooth SIG aims to develop and promote the technical standard and development of Bluetooth technology, and ensure better applications and interoperability amongst Bluetooth products. Bluetooth SIG membership, qualification and certification offer many benefits for both manufacturers and consumers. For example, companies that become Bluetooth SIG members can use the Profile Tuning Suite (PTS) tool, created by the Bluetooth SIG for its members. PTS helps automate Bluetooth profile testing to reduce the cost and time associated with qualification. PTS also better ensures Bluetooth device interoperability at the application level, so consumers can wirelessly connect many different types of Bluetooth enabled products. UnPlugFests are interoperability test events run by Bluetooth SIG for members as a means of improving the interoperability amongst Bluetooth devices.
Approximately three new Bluetooth enabled products are qualified every day and 10 million Bluetooth units are shipping per week. Emerging applications for Bluetooth technology in the areas of medical and automotive are coming into play, and the strong implementation of Bluetooth technology in existing devices such as mobile phones, personal computers, printers and music players will continue for the foreseeable future. As more devices are developed by more companies and with increased functionality, the need for standardized, efficient qualification is greater than ever.
For more information on how manufacturers can ensure their products fully comply with the Bluetooth specification, go to https://programs.bluetooth.org/technical/qualification/home.htm and review the documents related to the qualification program process and testing requirements which Bluetooth SIG members are required to read and understand prior to qualifying a Bluetooth product.
About Bluetooth Wireless Technology
Bluetooth wireless technology is the global short-range wireless standard for personal connectivity of a broad range of electronic devices. The technology is now available in its fourth version of the core specification and continues to develop, building on its inherent strengths – small-form factor radio, low power, low cost, built-in security, robustness, ease-of-use, and ad hoc networking abilities. Three new Bluetooth enabled products are qualified every day and 10 million Bluetooth units are shipping per week. The installed base of Bluetooth devices was over 500 million products at the end of 2005 and is projected to surpass one billion by the end of 2006, making it the only proven choice for developers, product manufacturers, and consumers worldwide.
About the Bluetooth SIG
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), comprised of leaders in the telecommunications, computing, consumer electronics, automotive and network industries, is driving development of Bluetooth wireless technology and bringing it to market. The Bluetooth SIG includes Promoter group companies Agere, Ericsson, Intel, Lenovo, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba, along with over 5500 Associate and Adopter member companies. The Bluetooth SIG, Inc. headquarters are located in Bellevue, Washington, U.S.A. For more information please visit www.bluetooth.com.
The Bluetooth word mark and logo are registered trademarks and are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Media assets (stills and video) to accompany stories about Bluetooth wireless technology are available on bluetooth.com, hosted by The NewsMarket: http://www.thenewsmarket.com/Bluetooth/br/Story/MultimediaPressPacks.aspx
PRESS CONTACTS:
Americas
Starr Million
INK Public Relations for the Bluetooth SIG
+1 (512) 382-8981
starr@ink-pr.com
Asia-Pacific
Eddie Chan
Hill & Knowlton Asia Ltd. for the Bluetooth SIG
+852 2894-6214
eddie.chan@hillandknowlton.com.hk
Europe, Middle East, Africa
Danny Devriendt
Porter Novelli for the Bluetooth SIG
+32 475353465
danny.devriendt@porternovelli.be
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