In a move which has apparently resulted from the copyright-misuse complaints which international companies and well-known individuals have lodged with China, the country has decided to bring about a change in its laws so that "malicious" trademark registrations can be targeted.

According to a Reuters report, citing state media, the most famous of the copy-right-misuse complaints is the case pertaining to the `iPad' trademark. With Proview Technology (Shenzhen) filing a lawsuit against Apple's use of the `iPad' trademark for its popular tablet, Apple finally worked out a $60 million settlement with the Chinese company.

Among the other noteworthy copyright-misuse complaints is the one in which Basketball legend Michael Jordan, who leveled allegations against a Chinese sportswear firm Qiaodan Sports for using his Chinese name "Qiaodan" and jersey number; and the trademark complaints filed by French luxury brand Hermes International.

The amendments which China intends making to its laws to crack down on "malicious" trademark registrations will offer protection to leading overseas brands; with copyright owners getting the right to either ban other companies from using their trademarks or preventing them from using similar trademarks.

Noting that the law-amendment draft proposes an increase - from 500,000 yuan (US$80,179) to 1 million yuan - in the upper limit for penalties on trademark violators, the official Xinhua news agency said: "The draft is intended to curb the malicious registration of trademarks."