The trademark used by Qiaodan Sports. (Photo provided to China Daily)
U.S. basketball icon Michael Jordan welcomed China's top court's ruling in trademark case on Thursday.
The Supreme People's Court overturned two decisions made by Beijing courts against the former NBA star from 2014 to 2015, asking the State Administration for Industry and Commerce to issue a ruling over the use of the Chinese characters in the brand name "Qiaodan".
Jordan had been in a series of disputes with a Fujian-based company, Qiaodan Sports, because he claimed that the Chinese company registered multiple trademarks by using "Qiaodan", a transliteration of Jordan's English surname, which violated his rights.
But the company denied that the use had been agreed by the administration.
Jordan said in a statement after the top court's announcement that: "I am happy that the Supreme People's Court has recognized the right to protect my name through its ruling in the trademark cases."
"Chinese consumers deserve to know that Qiaodan Sprots and its products have no connection to me. Nothing is more important than protecting your own name, and today's decision shows the importance of that principle," he said.
