近来，在商标异议复审行政纠纷案件和商标争议行政纠纷案件审判实务中，对商标标志上的著作权保护与商标权保护是否存在冲突，对商标标志的著作权保护是否会影响商标秩序有较大的争议。这涉及到涉案商标是否因为侵害他人在先著作权而违反商标法第三十一条关于“申请商标注册不得损害他人现有的在先权利”的规定的理解适用，因此这个问题的研究既有重要的理论价值，又有重要的实践意义。本文拟结合著作权法和商标法的基本原理对此问题进行分析。

　　一、质疑对商标标志进行著作权保护的主要理由

　　在司法实践中，认为商标标志的著作权保护可能影响商标制度的正常秩序的代表性观点体现在日本烟草产业株式会社与国家工商行政管理总局商标评审委员会、万金刚商标异议复审行政纠纷一案（以下简称万金刚案）中的一审判决即（2012）一中知行初字第1286号行政判决中。这种观点认为，我国商标法对于普通注册商标的保护系以相同或类似商品或服务为限定条件，也就是说，即便完全相同的商标标志，商标法也不禁止不同的商标注册人将其注册在不相同或不相类似的商品或服务上。因作品的保护通常不考虑载体，一旦商标标志构成受著作权法保护的作品，则意味着其可以不受商品或服务类别限制从而获得全类保护。

　　此外，商标法为促进商标的使用亦规定了相应的使用条款，即商标法第四十四条第四项规定，对于连续三年停止使用的商标可以予以撤销。但在商标标志构成作品从而可以适用著作权法保护的情况下，上述制度的适用将会受到影响。著作权法对作品的保护并不考虑使用情况，因此，即便因违反商标法有关连续三年不使用而被撤销的商标，亦可以基于著作权法对于作品的保护而禁止他人在全部商品或服务上使用与其相同或实质性相同的标识。上述情形显然对商标法相关基本制度构成了冲击，使得其在一定程度上无法发挥作用。因此，商标标志要构成作品，应当具备更高的独创性。

　　二、是否损害在先著作权应当根据著作权法来判断

　　为了分析上述对商标标志进行著作权保护的质疑是否合理，首先应当分析商标法第三十一条前半段的规定应当如何理解和适用。商标法第三十一条规定的“他人现有的在先权利”应当理解为商标法没有特别规定的在先权利以外的其他任何民事权利。在司法实践中，著作权、企业名称权、特有标志权、肖像权等均可以纳入在先权利的范围。是否损害“他人的现有在先权利”，应当根据侵权责任法和在先权利相关的法律来判断。在这个意义上，商标法第三十一条的规定有点类似于国际私法中的冲突规范，是指引在先权利相关法律的“路标”。在商标异议复审行政纠纷案件和商标争议行政纠纷案件中，如果争议焦点在于被异议商标或争议商标是否侵害他人肖像权，应当严格按照民法通则和侵权责任法的相关规定进行判断。并不能因为被控侵权的是商标标志，就存在与民法通则和侵权责任法的一般原则不相同的特别规则。在商标标志是否侵害他人在先著作权的认定过程中，无论商标标志是否构成作品，被异议商标或争议商标与在先作品是否相同或实质性相似，都应当按照著作权法的基本原理和相关法律规定来判断。

　　要分析商标标志的著作权保护是否会影响商标秩序，应当严格按照著作权法的基本原理正确理解作品的独创性和保护范围。如果作品的表达比较简单，变量较少，不同作者在分别独立创作的情况下出现相同或基本相同的表达的可能性较大。在原告的作品已经公开传播的情况下，确系独立创作的被告要证明其系独立创作而非复制原告的作品较为困难，在司法实践中往往难以判断相同的原因是否因为复制还是因为巧合。为解决这种实践中的难题，司法实践中一般会认为表达较为简单、变量较少、各自独立创作但表达相同的可能性较大的作品独创性较低而不予保护。正如在万金刚案的二审判决即（2012）高行终字第1782号行政判决书中所述，所谓独创性的“高度”，实质上指独立创作但结果相同的可能性，如果可能性较大，则独创性高度较小；如果可能性较小，则独创性高度较大。所谓的独创性“高度”，只是为了方便司法实践中认定被告是否独立创作。

　　基于前面的分析可知，作品的著作权保护范围与作品的独创性程度是密切相关的。在作品的表达非常简单，但被告确实能够证明其系独立创作的情况下，即使与公开传播的他人在先作品相同，也不能认为被告侵权，或者认为被告对其独立创作的作品没有著作权。如果作品的独创性较低，则保护范围较小，原则上只能保护相同而不能保护相近似。如果作品的独创性较高，则保护范围较大，不仅保护相同，也保护相近似。这一点与商标权的保护范围类似。商标法理论认为，商标权的范围具有弹性。商标的保护范围好比电筒的光照范围，电池的强度如同商标的显著性，电池越强，光照的范围也就越亮，商标的保护范围也应当越强。同样的道理，在著作权案件中，作品的独创性越强，受到的保护也应当越强。

　　三、对商标标志的著作权保护并不会影响商标秩序

　　前面的分析表明，如果商标标志的独创性较低，按照著作权法的基本原则，原则上只保护相同而不保护相近似的商标标志，其他相近似的商标标志的注册和使用并不侵害著作权，因此并不会因为对商标标志的著作权保护而影响其他商标的正常注册和使用。对于作品的智力创造性高度设定的标准越低，并不意味着因为著作权保护而阻止的商标标志越多。

　　如果商标标志具有较高的独创性，对作者个性的体现比较明显，表明各自独立创作但结果相同的可能性较小，作者以外的他人使用该标志申请注册商标，往往能够佐证其损害在先商标合法权益的恶意。著作权法的保护有时反而可以弥补因商品类似的认定标准比较模糊而不能有效制止恶意注册的不足。对商标标志依法进行著作权保护，反而能够维持正常的商标秩序。如果商标标志构成作品，在著作权法确定的保护期限内，即使该商标标志因为三年不使用而被撤销，他人也不能未经著作权人许可再使用该商标标志注册商标，这是著作权法对作品进行保护的正常结果。能够作为商标注册的商标标志是难以穷尽的，并不因为著作权法保护了构成作品的那一部分商标标志，就会减少可以注册的商标标志的数量。因此，对构成作品的商标标志的全类保护和长期保护对商标秩序和商标制度并不会产生不利影响。

　　综上，商标标志的著作权保护与商标权保护并不冲突，反而能够相互补充和协调。认为二者存在冲突的观点是站不住脚的。无论是理论研究还是司法实践，都应当严格遵守商标法第三十一条的规定和著作权法的相关规定，不能违反著作权法的基本原则来提高商标标志的独创性标准。

　　（作者单位：最高人民法院）
中国银行业监督管理委员会




China Banking Regulatory Commission No. 4 Order
Upon the approval of the State Council, the Administrative Rules Governing the Auto Financing Company is now promulgated by the China Banking Regulatory Commission.





Chairman Liu Mingkang

October 3, 2003





Administrative Rules Governing the Auto Financing Company
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 The Administrative Rules Governing the Auto Financing Company (hereinafter referred to as the Rules) is stipulated in accordance with relevant laws and regulations to serve the need of developing auto financing business and regulating the business activities of the non-bank financial institutions engaging in auto financing business.



Article 2 Auto financing companies referred to in the Rules are defined as non-bank financial legal entities charted by the China Banking Regulatory Commission in compliance with relevant laws, regulations and the Rules to provide loans for auto buyers and dealers in the mainland of China.



Article 3 Auto financing companies are supervised and regulated by the China Banking Regulatory Commission.



Chapter II Incorporation, Change and Termination


Article 4 The establishment of an auto financing company shall be subject to the approval of the China Banking Regulatory Commission.



Without the approval of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, no individual or entity shall be allowed to establish an auto financing company, or engage in auto financing business, or include in the name of a company such names as “auto financing” or “auto loan” that indicate the company’s engagement in auto financing business



Article 5 An investor of an auto financing company shall satisfy following requirements:

(a) It shall be a corporate legal entity incorporated in and outside China.

If the investor is a non-financial entity, its total assets of the previous year shall be no less than RMB4 billion yuan or an equivalent amount in convertible currencies; its annual business revenue of the previous year shall be no less than RMB2 billion yuan or an equivalent amount in convertible currencies.

If the investor is a non-bank financial institution, its registered capital shall be no less than RMB300 million yuan or an equivalent amount in convertible currencies;

(b) It shall have sound business performance and remain profitable for the last three consecutive years;

(c) It shall comply with the laws of the countries where it is incorporated and shall have a clean record;

(d) In case of the largest investor, it shall be an auto enterprise or a non-bank financial institution.

The auto enterprise refers to an enterprise that manufactures and sells the whole unit of an automobile.

The largest investor refers to the investor with the largest share of capital and its capital contribution accounting for no less than 30 percent of the total equity of the auto financing company;

(e) It shall not invest in more than one auto financing company; and

(f) It shall satisfy other prudential supervisory requirements set forth by the China Banking Regulatory Commission.



Article 6 An auto financing company shall satisfy the following conditions in order to be incorporated:

a) the minimum amount of registered capital required by the Rules;

b) Articles of Association that complies with relevant laws including the Company Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Rules;

c) senior management familiar with auto financing and other related business;

d) a sound organizational structure, management and risk control systems;

e) proper business premises, safety measures and other facilities for business operations; and

f) other conditions set out by the China Banking Regulatory Commission.



Article 7 The minimum registered capital of an auto financing company shall be no less than RMB500 million yuan or an equivalent amount in convertible currencies. Registered capital shall be paid-in capital.



The China Banking Regulatory Commission shall have the power to adjust the minimum registered capital of an auto financing company in line with the developments of auto financing business and the prudential requirements, but the adjusted floor shall not be lower than the amount provided in this Article.



Article 8 The establishment of an auto financing company shall cover two stages, i.e. the preparation stage and the business commencement stage. The Chinese text of all application documents for the preparation and the business commencement stages shall prevail.



Article 9 To apply for the preparation of a prospective auto financing company, the largest investor of the company shall act as the applicant and submit the following documents to the China Banking Regulatory Commission:

(a) an application letter, including the auto financing company’s name, location of incorporation, registered capital, business scope and investors’ names and amounts of investment, etc.;

(b) a feasibility study on establishing the auto financing company, including a market analysis, a business plan, the organizational structure, an assessment of the company’s risk control capability, the proforma balance sheet and profits in the following three years after the business commencement;

(c) an Articles of Association of the auto financing company (a draft note);

(d) basic information of each investor of the auto financing company, including name, legal representative, location of incorporation, a photocopy of the business license and a summary of business performance, etc.;

(e) the investor’s balance sheet, profit and loss statement and cash flow statement for the latest three years audited by qualified auditing firms;

(f) name and resume of the person in charge of the preparation; and

(g) other documents required by the China Banking Regulatory Commission.



If the applicant is a foreign non-bank financial institution, it shall submit the consent of its home country supervisory authority in writing. If the applicant is a non-financial entity, it shall submit the credit rating report of the previous year by a rating agency.



Article 10 The China Banking Regulatory Commission, upon receiving a complete set of application documents for the preparation of an auto financing company, shall provide its decision of approval or denial in writing within six months.



Article 11 The applicant shall, upon receiving the approval letter from the China Banking Regulatory Commission, complete the preparation within six months. If the applicant has justification for prolonging the preparation stage beyond the prescribed period, it shall submit a written application to the China Banking Regulatory Commission before the original deadline falls due, and may extend the preparation stage for up to three months subject to the approval.



If the applicant fails to apply for business commencement upon the completion of the preparation stage or the extended preparation stage, the original approval document for the preparation shall become void automatically.



During the preparation stage, the applicant shall not conduct any auto financing business.



Article 12 The applicant shall, before the deadline of the preparation stage or the extended preparation stage, apply for business commencement to the China Banking Regulatory Commission with the following attachments:



(a) a report on completion of the preparation and an application letter for business commencement;

(b) a certification of paid-in capital issued by a qualified Chinese certifying agency, and a registration certificate issued by the State Administration of Industry and Commerce;

(c) articles of Association of the auto financing company;

(d) names and detailed resumes of proposed senior managerial personnel;

(e) name and capital contribution of each shareholder;

(f) proposed business rules and procedures and internal controls;

(g) verification documents on business premises and other business-related facilities issued by relevant authorities; and

(h) other documents required by the China Banking Regulatory Commission.



Article 13 The China Banking Regulatory Commission, upon receiving a complete set of business commencement application documents, shall provide its decision of approval or denial of the application within three months. If the application is approved, the applicant shall receive a written approval letter attached with a license to conduct financial business with the prescribed business scope. If the application is denied, the applicant shall receive a written notice in which reasons for denial are provided.



The applicant shall, before commencing operations, register with the State Administration of Industry and Commerce with the presentation of the license to conduct financial business, and receive a corporate legal entity business License.



The China Banking Regulatory Commission shall revoke the license to conduct financial business and issue a public notice of the revocation if the auto financing company, after receiving the business license, fails without justification to open business within three months, or, without approval, stops operation for six consecutive months after business commencement.



Article 14 An auto financing company shall not set up any branch or subsidiary.



Article 15 The appointment of the senior managerial personnel of an auto financing company shall be either subject to the qualification review by the China Banking Regulatory Commission or filed with the China Banking Regulatory Commission for record.



The chairman of the board of directors, general manager and deputy general manager, executive directors, and chief financial officer of an auto financing company are subject to the qualification view by the China Banking Regulatory Commission. The qualifications of these senior managerial personnel and procedures relating to qualification review and filing for record shall be issued separately.



Article 16 An auto financing company, in case of any of the following changes, shall seek the approval of the China Banking Regulatory Commission:

(a) change of company name;

(b) change of registered capital;

(c) change of business premises;

(d) change of business scope;

(e) change of organizational structure;

(f) change of equity structure;

(g) revision of Articles of Association;

(h) change of senior managerial personnel;

(i) merger or split; and

(j) other changes that require the approval of the China Banking Regulatory Commission.



Article 17 The liquidation of an auto financing company whose operation is terminated because of dissolution, closure or bankruptcy, shall be carried out in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.



Chapter III Business Scope and Supervision


Article 18 An auto financing company may conduct all or part of the following lines of Renminbi business with the approval of the China Banking Regulatory Commission:

(a) taking deposits with maturity of no less than three months from its shareholders in the mainland of China;

(b) extending loans for auto purchase;

(c) extending loans to auto dealers for purpose of purchasing automobiles or facilities for operations (including the show-room construction, purchase of spare parts and equipment repairs);

(d) transferring and selling auto loan receivables;

(e) borrowing from financial institutions;

(f) providing guarantee for auto purchase financing;

(g) agency business relating to auto purchase financing; and

(h) other loan business approved by The China Banking Regulatory Commission.



Article 19 An auto financing company, in case of extending loans to a natural person for auto purchase, shall observe relevant rules governing the auto loans to individual buyers promulgated by the relative supervisory authority. In case of extending auto loans to a legal entity or other organizations, an auto financing company shall observe relevant rules set out by General Provisions of Loans and other regulations.



Article 20 An auto financing company, without the approval of relevant regulatory authorities, shall not issue bonds or borrow funds from overseas. When an auto financing company’s establishment and business operations involve currency exchange, outward repatriation of profits, provision of auto loans for non-residents, capital management or other business transactions relating to foreign exchange administration, the company shall be subject to relevant regulations to be jointly issued by relative regulatory authorities and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.



Article 21 An auto financing company shall meet the requirement on the capital to risk assets ratio, and the capital adequacy ratio shall not be less than ten percent. The China Banking Regulatory Commission may increase the minimum requirement of capital adequacy ratio of an individual company in line with the company’s risk profile and risk management capability. Other requirements on risk control and management relating to various kinds of assets shall be issued separately by the China Banking Regulatory Commission.



Article 22 An auto financing company shall adopt relevant accounting rules for financial institutions.



Article 23 An auto financing company shall compile in required format and submit to the China Banking Regulatory Commission the balance sheet, the profit and loss Statement, the cash flow statement and other statements required by the China Banking Regulatory Commission, and submit the financial statements of the previous year within three months after the end of each accounting year.



An auto financing company shall not provide false financial statements, or statements in which important facts are concealed.



Article 24 An auto financing company shall establish and improve various business management systems and internal controls in line with Guidelines on Strengthening Internal Controls of Commercial Banks issued by the People’s Bank of China, and report the systems to the China Banking Regulatory Commission before their implementation.



Article 25 An auto financing company shall accept the on-site examination and the off-site surveillance by the China Banking Regulatory Commission.



Article 26 The China Banking Regulatory Commission may call the legal representatives or other senior managerial personnel of an auto financing company for inquiries into problems discovered during regular examinations, and demand the company to correct within a prescribed time frame.



Article 27 An auto financing company shall establish a system of external audit on a regular basis and submit to the China Banking Regulatory Commission annual auditor’s report signed by the company’s legal representative within six months after the end of each accounting year.



Article 28 An auto financing company, in case of encountering payment difficulties or other emergencies, shall take remedial actions, and promptly report to the China Banking Regulatory Commission.



Article 29 The China Banking Regulatory Commission shall demand remedial actions by an auto financing company in case of the following circumstances:

(a) The company suffers from a loss in the current year of above 50 percent of the registered capital or losses in the last three consecutive years of above 10 percent of the registered capital;

(b) The company is in payment difficulties; and

(c) The company faces other major operational risks that the China Banking Regulatory Commission deems necessary to issue an order for corrective actions.



Article 30 The China Banking Regulatory Commission, after issuing an order for corrective actions to an auto financing company, may take the following enforcement actions:

(a) demanding or prohibiting the change of the company’s senior managerial personnel;

(b) suspending part of the company’s business or prohibiting the company’s engagement in new business lines;

(c) demanding an increase of the company’s capital within a prescribed time frame;

(d) demanding the company to change its equity structure or implement other forms of restructuring;

(e) prohibiting the dividend distribution; and

(f) other enforcement actions that the China Banking Regulatory Commission deems necessary.



Article 31 An auto financing company, when receiving an order for remedial actions, shall not resume normal business operations until the following conditions are met and are approved by the China Banking Regulatory Commission:

(a) Solvency is restored;

(b) Losses are covered; and

(c) Major operational risks are addressed.



Article 32 The maximum time limit that an auto financing company is allowed for corrective actions shall not exceed one year. If the company fails to meet the objectives of remedial actions within the prescribed time limit, its operation shall be terminated in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.



Article 33 Auto financing companies may establish a trade association for self-regulation purposes. The activities of the trade association are subject to the guidance and oversight of the China Banking Regulatory Commission.



Chapter IV Legal Liabilities


Article 34 Any establishment of an auto financing company or any auto financing business without the approval of the China Banking Regulatory Commission shall be banned. If the case constitutes a crime, criminal liabilities shall be investigated. If the case dose not constitute a crime, the China Banking Regulatory Commission shall confiscate the illegal earnings and impose a fine between one to five times the illegal earnings. If no illegal earnings are involved, the China Banking Regulatory Commission shall issue an order for remedial actions and impose a fine of no less than RMB100,000 yuan and no more than RMB500,000 yuan.



Article 35 The China Banking Regulatory Commission shall demand correction and impose a fine of RMB1000 yuan if a company, without the approval of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, includes in its name such words as “auto finance”, “auto loan”, etc. that indicate the company’s engagement in auto financing business.



Article 36 In case of an auto financing company being found to engage in business activities beyond its prescribed business scope, the China Banking Regulatory Commission shall issue a warning against the company, confiscate the illegal earnings and impose a fine in a range of one to five times the illegal earnings. If no illegal earnings are involved, the China Banking Regulatory Commission imposes a fine of no less than RMB100,000 yuan and no more than RMB500,000 yuan. If the case constitutes a crime, the criminal liabilities shall be investigated.



Article 37 In case of an auto financing company being found in violation of relevant provisions of the Rules to provide false financial statements or statements in which important facts are concealed, the China Banking Regulatory Commission shall issue a warning against the company, and impose a fine of no less than RMB100,000 yuan and no more than RMB500,000 yuan. If the case constitutes a crime, the criminal liabilities shall be investigated.



Article 38 In case of an auto financing company being found in violation of relevant provisions of the Rules to reject or impede the examinations and oversight by the supervisor, the China Banking Regulatory Commission shall issue a warning against the company, and impose a fine of no less than RMB10,000 yuan and no more than RMB30,000 yuan.



Article 39 An auto financing company, in case of being found in violation of the Rules, shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of Article 34 to Article 38. If the violation is a serious one, the China Banking Regulatory Commission may ban the company’s senior managerial personnel from holding senior management position for one to ten years, or in some particular case, for life.



Article 40 An auto financing company, in case of being found in violation of other Chinese laws and regulations, shall be subject to enforcement actions by relevant regulatory authorities.



Chapter V Supplementary Provisions


Article 41 The Rules is applicable to all auto financing companies incorporated in the mainland of China funded by investors from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan province.



Article 42 The Rules enters into effect on October 3, 2003, and the power of the interpretation rests with the China Banking Regulatory Commission.