§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is aware that the names of British manufacturing companies are being registered by Japanese companies in Japan and that this creates problems for British exporters to Japan; if he will make further representations with the object of seeking to put an end to this practice; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DeakinsBritish exporters are strongly recommended to register their trade names and trade marks in their own name before they attempt to do any business in Japan. Representations have been made to the Japanese Government about the recent case in which a Japanese Company registered a generic name for the tea blend "English Breakfast" and is now seeking to prevent other importers from selling in Japan tea bearing the same name. We regard this as unfair competition and different from those cases where British companies have merely failed to take appropriate steps to register their industrial property rights in the first place.