Ministry of Industry, Department of Commerce, Patent Registration Department.
A middle-aged official looked at the design drawing and frowned: "What a joke. Are you applying for a patent for a woman's bellyband?"
Zhou Hexuan explained: "The West also has this patent, and the application was approved more than ten years ago. On the basis of Western underwear, I have improved some styles. For example, if you look at the shoulder straps and laces, they are flexible and changeable.
It takes into account the woman’s fatness and frame size.”
"No, no, this invention has no practicality." The official shook his head repeatedly, but there was greed in his eyes.
In the early years of the Republic of China, you could not just apply for a patent if you wanted to. The Patent Law clearly stipulated that no patent certificate would be issued for purely theoretical inventions, as well as impractical inventions that cost a lot but have little use.
This regulation is too utilitarian and seriously hinders the development of theoretical science and invention research. At the same time, it also becomes a way for patent registration officials to make money. If you do not pay a bribe, they will say that your invention has no practical use and will not approve it according to the regulations.
Zhou Hexuan took out a check for 200 silver dollars, and Zhang Xueliang's handwriting, handed it over and said, "Take another look, is it practical?"
The official looked at the amount of the check, and a smile suddenly appeared on his face. He saw Zhang Xueliang's handwriting again, and his attitude suddenly turned 180 degrees, and he said enthusiastically: "It turns out that he is a friend of the young marshal. You told me earlier. Sir, you
Do you want to apply for an invention patent or an improvement patent?"
"Improvement." Zhou Hexuan said.
The middle-aged official immediately took out a blank improvement certificate, filled in the content, stamped it, signed his name and said to Zhou Hexuan: "With this certificate, you can go directly next door to apply for the right to sell goods."
After Zhang Zuolin took office as the commander-in-chief of the Anguo Army, he regarded himself as the head of state. When he returned to Peking at the beginning of the year, the bureaucrats in the capital also greeted him as a head of state.
Since he became the "head of state" of the country, he naturally wanted to provide benefits to his subordinates. The Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, a large government office with a lot of money, was also faced with dividing the cake. As a result, the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce was divided into two, becoming the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Industry and Agriculture.
Registered patents and trademarks are under the jurisdiction of the newly established Commerce Department of the Ministry of Industry. Patent rights have been changed to exclusive rights by the newly established yamen, and the maximum period has been extended to fifteen years from the previous five years.
So there are people in the DPRK who can do things easily. Without Zhang Xueliang's approval note, it would be difficult to obtain a patent for the new underwear. The reason is very simple. This thing is too immoral and the bureaucrats will not approve it. Even if you get the patent certificate,
It is also difficult for the exclusivity to last for fifteen years.
Now with Zhang Xueliang's note, Zhou Hexuan can easily obtain the fifteen-year exclusive right to sell new underwear.
Immediately afterwards, Zhou Hexuan worked non-stop to register a trademark, and this time it was much smoother. The trademark name is "Mei Kou", and the pattern is a silhouette of a beautiful woman's upper body.
Although the Beiyang government is a bastard and unable to manage local areas, it is the central government after all, and it needs to formulate and promulgate various national laws and regulations. For example, the "Trademark Law" and the "Patent Law" were promulgated by the Beiyang government.
The government will implement and use it in accordance with the regulations.
In the early years of the Republic of China, trademark management was extremely chaotic. There were not only the customs trademark registration systems of the central government in Tianjin and Shanghai, but also the trademark registrations of local governments, private chambers of commerce, and trade associations. Anyway, there were all kinds of things, and sometimes genuine products were infringed and pirated.
You don't even know where to go to court to file a lawsuit.
Even the central government's trademark registration rights are in the hands of foreign customs officials in Tianjin and Shanghai. Chinese manufacturers must register trademarks based on foreigners' opinions.
It was not until four years ago that the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce of the Beiyang Government established the Trademark Office. In four years, seven directors were changed, gradually taking back the trademark registration rights from foreigners, and setting up trademark branches in Tianjin and Shanghai. Only then did the chaos be slightly reversed, and the trademark
be managed uniformly.
However, provinces controlled by warlords such as Huguang and Sichuan still act on their own. Although they abide by the Trademark Law promulgated by the central government, the specific implementation is still decided by local governments.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce belongs to the Youshui Yamen, and has attracted the envy of all parties since its establishment. It was able to establish a Trademark Office, promulgate the "Trademark Law", and take back trademark registration rights from foreigners. In fact, it was the big businessmen from all over the country who were behind the push.
Nowadays, private chambers of commerce and labor unions are extremely powerful. If Zhou Hexuan wants to gain a firm foothold, he must choose a chamber of commerce to join, otherwise he will inevitably be secretly boycotted and suppressed.
What is even more troublesome is that the National Government of the South has just established a commerce department. He has to go to the South to re-register trademarks and patents in order to get legal support in the South.
…
Zhou Hexuan returned to Tianjin by train. Not long after he arrived home, Wanrong came excitedly and knocked on the door. He held up the drawing as if to offer a treasure and said, "Look, Hexuan, this is the comic I drew today."
The drawings include Zhou Hexuan, Cui Huifu, Cui Huimei and Lu Jingyan, all of whom are familiar to Wanrong. There are also some small animals such as cats and dogs, mainly in a cute style, and each one is drawn vividly.
In terms of technique alone, Wanrong's comics have actually surpassed the teacher Zhou Hexuan.
There is no way, my painting skills are there.
Zhou Hexuan smiled and praised: "It's very good. His painting is already better than mine."
"It's still a little bit worse." Wanrong said proudly, like a child being praised by her parents.
"Wait a moment."
Zhou Hexuan took out the pencil and manuscript paper he bought a few days ago and spent more than ten minutes drawing a set of simple continuity comics. He said: "Look at this."
"This set of comics of yours doesn't seem to be exaggerated or deformed," Wanrong said.
Zhou Hexuan laughed and said: "Cartoons can be divided into various styles, and they don't have to be exaggerated. I write a story, you can draw it according to it, and then get it to be serialized in Ta Kung Pao."
I'm sorry, Teacher Zhang Leping, let's borrow your "San Mao" for a while. I believe that with your talent, you can definitely create a better story.
That's right, Zhou Hexuan wants to copy "The Wanderings of San Mao".
"Sanmao" was originally a comic, which caused a sensation after being serialized in Ta Kung Pao, and was eventually adapted into movies and novels.
Wanrong is a very emotional woman. After reading the first episode of "Sanmao" written by Zhou Hexuan, she said with tears in her eyes: "This child is so pitiful."
Zhou Hexuan sighed: "Children like this are everywhere in China. If you draw the story into a cartoon and serialize it in a newspaper, maybe it will attract attention and let caring people help those orphans."
"Yes, I can draw it well." Wanrong suddenly felt a sense of responsibility, which was an unprecedented experience for her.
Historically, when Wanrong settled in Tianjin, she read the news about the severe famine in Hebei Province in the newspaper, and specially donated her jewelry for disaster relief. She had a good heart, but it was a pity that she had lived in fine clothes since she was a child, and did not know the sufferings of the people.
Zhou Hexuan said: "I'm going to the south in a few days and may stay for a month or two. You can paint slowly at home."
"Are you leaving?" Wanrong was a little reluctant. She was used to spending time with Zhou Hexuan every day.
"Yeah, I'll be back soon." Zhou Hexuan said with a smile.
Wanrong lowered her head and said, "I will wait for you."
Zhou Hexuan patted her on the top of her head and said with a smile: "Silly girl, it's not like we are separated by life or death."
Wanrong didn't know where the courage came from, and she suddenly approached Zhou Hexuan's arms and hugged the man tightly.
Zhou Hexuan was stunned for a moment, feeling the warm fragrance of nephrite's body, and finally raised his arms to hug Wanrong.
Wanrong's body became hot and she raised her head to look at Zhou Hexuan. Suddenly, she stood on tiptoes and pecked Zhou Hexuan's face with her lips. Then she pushed the man away with all her strength, turned around and ran out of the room quickly, her heart pounding.
Jump.
When Zhou Hexuan saw that she was acting like a frightened deer, he immediately burst into laughter.
