According to Shanghai Customs, the padlocks, totalling 650 boxes and valued at around US$10,000, came from Xiaoshan in East China's Zhejiang Province, and were for export to the United Arab Emirates.

This is the first case of suspected infringement on intellectual property rights (IPR) of Olympic symbols filed by the customs since the State Council enacted the Regulations on the Protection of Olympic Symbols on April 1, 2002, according to the local customs office.

Customs authorities did not name the lock producer but reiterated such goods will be subject to confiscation, if customs is convinced they violate regulations.

According to the Regulations on the Protection of Olympic Symbols, which took effect on April 1, 2002, any commercial use of the Olympic symbols of Beijing 2008 Summer Games, including the Five Olympic Rings, flag, motto, emblem, anthem and other special terms concerning the Games, should be authorized by the legal owners of the symbols -- the International Olympic Committee, the Chinese Olympic Committee, and the Organizing Committee of Games of the XXIX Olympiad.

In addition, the regulations specify that if imported or exported products are suspected of infringing the exclusive rights of the Olympic symbols, they shall be investigated and dealt with by the customs under the Customs Law and other related laws and regulations.

Shanghai Customs released yesterday a letter of notice to local exporters advising them not to use Olympic symbols commercially without proper authorization.

(China Daily August 13, 2002)