Court vetoes man's attempt to register "capitalist" company name
( 2003-09-13 14:04) (Agencies)
A local court in Shanghai,
China's largest metropolis and economic center, has turned down the request of a
36-year old businessman to use the word "capitalist", in the title of his
company.
In its first instance decision, the People's Court of Xujiahui District
upheld the decision of the municipal administration of industry and commerce,
which said that the word "capitalist" holds a special meaning in China and runs
against the nature of the country's socialist system.
Under current circumstances, the use of the word in a company name may
produce negative results and misguide the public, the court said.
Li Yuzhang, the plaintiff, went to court after he failed six months ago to
register his company as the Shanghai Capitalist Competitiveness Co., Ltd., with
both the district-level administration of industry and commerce of the Pudong
New Area and the municipal administration.
Li handed the court a lengthy lawsuit against the municipal administration,
arguing that the special meaning for such a common word as "capitalist" must be
abandoned, so as to keep pace with the changes of the times. It is but a popular
word referring internationally to entrepreneurship, he insisted.
Currently, many similar expressions are used in the city, he argued, citing
the "Boss Club" and "Capitalist Garden" as examples.
Li expressed his hope that the case would arouse ideological debate among the
public.
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