The Repeated Authorization of the Distribution Rights for “101 Hair Growth Tonic” Products Have Caused Controversy over Dealership.
2007/05/14 TaiwanA very famous hair growth tonic, once had been given to foreign guests as gifts by Deng Xiao Ping, was suspected to expose the controversy regarding the repeated authorization of the rights for selling “101 Hair Growth Tonic” products. This has made two Taiwanese agents of the 101 Hair Tonic products both claim that they own the exclusive rights to distribute 101 hair tonic products in Taiwan and confront each other in the court for this matter. Even the parent company of 101 in China came from across the sea to defend their own trademark right for the market for hair growth products that is worth more than a hundred million dollars per year.
Taking a close look at the two hair tonic products which are with similar colour packaging, we can see that they both bear the trademark “101” that has been registered under the most well-known hair growth products in China. However, after the 101 hair tonic products were imported to Taiwan, the two agents that were authorized to sell the products file a lawsuit against each other because of the repeated authorization for selling “101 hair tonic” products.
The manager of 101 Biology Technology company in Taiwan indicates that “Zhao Zhang Guan hided the truth from the other agent and told them that we agreed that he authorized them to sell “101 hair tonic” products in Taiwan. However, in fact, before Zhao Zhang Guan settled the authorization problems between the parent company of 101 and our company, he further authorized the other agent to sell the 101 hair tonic products in Taiwan. He kept emphasizing that we would be the exclusive agent when he authorized us to sell the products. And now, we do not know why he would authorize somebody else to sell the 101 hair tonic products.”
Taking out the Certificate of Authorization issued by the Straits Exchange Fundation, Mr. Yeh emphasizes that he is the one who owns exclusive right to import the ingredients of 101 hair growth tonic from China for manufacturing the hair tonic products that treat baldhead and selling them for NT1500 per bottle.
The manager of 101 Hair-Growth shop Zheng Hao asserts that “the 101 Hair tonic company in Beijing ended the contract with the other agent long time ago and they also sent out a lawyer’s notification for that. Our products are directly imported from China.”
Possessing the Certificate of Authorization verified by the Straits Exchange Fundation, this company also has a proof indicating that they have the right to sell the 101 hair tonic products in Taiwan. The only difference between Mr. Yeh’s company and the 101 Hair-Growth shop is that the latter directly imports the 101 products from China and sells a bottle of hair tonic for NT2500 aiming for the market for hair growth products that is worth more than a hundred million dollars per year. Therefore, the parent company of 101 in China has decided to end the contract unilaterally with Mr. Yeh. Even so, if the problems for the repeated authorization of the distribution rights are not solved properly, the three parties will have to sue one another and let the judge to decide who is the lawful agent of the 101 hair growth tonic products.
(from Ettoday 2007/05/14)
translated by Michelle Lo
International Affairs
