Current situation of trademark registration and brand protection of grade-A tertiary hospitals in China / 中华医院管理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the trademark registration situation of grade-A tertiary hospitals in China, so as to analyze the current situation of hospital brand protection and explore suggestions for hospital brand protection.Methods:The top 50 hospitals ranked in the 2021 National Hospital Comprehensive Ranking by the Hospital Management Research Institute of Fudan University, excluding military hospitals, were selected as the sample hospitals. The trademark registration information of the 50 sample hospitals was queried through the China Trademark Website of the Trademark Office of China National Intellectual Property Administration on March 15, 2023, and the registration of the full name, abbreviation, hospital emblem and other trademarks of the hospitals was counted. Results:Among the 50 sample hospitals, 26 hospitals already held hospital brand trademarks, which meant that at least one of the hospital′s full name, abbreviation, and emblem was registered as a trademark, accounting for 52%; 7 hospitals did not hold any trademarks, accounting for 14%; 17 hospitals held other trademarks but did not hold hospital brand trademarks, accounting for 34%. Among the 26 hospitals that already held brand trademarks, 11 hospitals only registered in one category. There were 3 hospitals with expired registered trademarks.Conclusions:Nearly half of the sample hospitals did not hold hospital brand trademarks, indicating that the trademark registration and brand protection of tertiary hospitals in China need to be strengthened. It is suggested to establish a hospital brand protection system, clarify the trademark management department, standardize the responsibilities of trademark management, and improve the use of trademarks, so as to do a good job in hospital trademark registration and brand protection.