Taiwan: 'Tsing' is not Tsingtao

Following a court appeal, a local trademark variant for Tsingtao Beer has been banned in Taiwan because authorities believe the name Tsing Beer could mislead consumers.

Taiwan Tsing Beer Co Ltd, the exclusive distributor of Tsingtao Beer on the island, applied for a trademark on the name, but it was revoked last year because the name "has a similar pronunciation to the term for draft beer in the local Taiwan dialect", according to a court ruling.

The company filed a lawsuit claiming that the name is just short for Tsingtao Beer, but the court ruled against the argument.