VOA慢速英语2015 迈克尔乔丹在中国最高法院争姓名权

AS IT IS 2015-05-20 Michael Jordan Fights for His Name in China’s Highest Court 迈克尔乔丹在中国最高法院争姓名权

Basketball star Michael Jordan’s lawyers said last Friday they will take a case to China's supreme¹ court. The case deals with a Chinese sports company using trademarks³ relating to Mr. Jordan. There are several other cases in Chinese courts that say Chinese companies are using brand names without the permission of their owners.

The former Chicago Bulls⁴ star first sued⁶ Qiaodan Sports in 2012. He said the sports clothing company had used his Chinese name and famous jersey⁷ number "23" to build its business. The company in southern Fujian province did not have his permission to use the name or number.

Earlier this year, a court decided⁸ that Qiaodan could legally use the name. The Beijing Municipal⁹ High People's Court recently agreed with the decision.

“In light of the trademark² dispute ruling,” the lawyes said in a statement, “We intend to appeal to the Supreme People's Court for retrial." The legal team added that they also are involved in a separate case with Qiaodan Sports over the rights to name some products.

The name “Qiaodan" is the way Chinese write Michael Jordan’s surname¹⁰, or family name. Basketball is a popular sport in China where many admire Mr. Jordan. Another basketball superstar is Chinese-born former Houston Rockets player Yao Ming.

Ren Juan is a member of Qiaodan Sports' legal department. She was asked about the latest court decision. She answered saying: "Qiaodan Sports will respect the judgment¹¹ of the court."

In 2013, Qiaodan Sports sued Michael Jordan for harming people’s opinions of the company. Qiaodan asked for $8 million in damages to its reputation.

Mr. Jordan's case is one of several that involve foreign companies and trademark rights in China.

Apple paid $60 million in 2012 to a Chinese company that owned the iPad trademark. Official Chinese media reported last month that a company with ties to U.S. shoemaker New Balance had lost a trademark case against a Chinese company.

Forbes Magazine says Mr. Jordan’s wealth is valued at $1 billion. He is the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets basketball team. He also has a contract with Nike, which makes Air Jordan shoes.

Words in This Story

trademark - n. something (such as a word) that identifies a company's product and cannot be used by another company without permission

sue⁵ – v. to use a legal process by which you try to get a court of law to force a person, company, or organization that has treated you unfairly or hurt you in some way to give you something or to do something

reputation – n. the way in which people think of someone or something

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 trademark   

n.商标；特征；vt.注册的…商标

参考例句：

• The trademark is registered on the book of the Patent Office.该商标已在专利局登记注册。
• The trademark of the pen was changed.这钢笔的商标改了。

3 trademarks   

n.（注册）商标( trademark的名词复数 )；（人的行为或衣着的）特征，标记

参考例句：

• Motrin and Nuprin are trademarks of brands of ibuprofen tablets. Nuprin和Motrin均是布洛芬的商标。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Many goods in China have the trademarks of a panda. 中国的许多商品都带有熊猫的商标。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 bulls   

n.公牛( bull的名词复数 )；法令；力大如牛的人；（象、鲸等动物的）雄兽

参考例句：

• Riding bulls is always an exciting event at a rodeo. 骑公牛总是放牧人竞技会上激动人心的表演。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Two white bulls were sacrificed and a feast was held. 献祭了两头白牛，并举行了盛宴。 来自辞典例句

5 sue   

vt.控告，起诉；vi.请求，追求，起诉

参考例句：

• If you don't pay me the money,I'll sue you.如果你不付给我钱，我就告你。
• The war criminals sue for peace.战犯求和。

6 sued   

v.（为要求赔偿损失而）起诉( sue的过去式和过去分词 )；控告；请求；要求（尤用于法庭）

参考例句：

• The company sued for defamation. 这个公司因受到诽谤而提起诉讼。
• He sued the newspaper for libel. 他起诉那家报社犯有诽谤罪。

7 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

8 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

9 municipal   

adj.市的，市政的；n.政府证券

参考例句：

• The municipal authorities have kept the roads up well.市政当局把道路保养得不错。
• The city is planning to build a municipal library.该市正计划建一座市立图书馆。

10 surname   

n.姓；vt.冠姓

参考例句：

• Her first name is Sheila and her surname is Kane.她姓凯恩，名叫希拉。
• Wang is a very common Chinese surname.王是一个很常见的中国姓。

11 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。