Customer Exposes "Zhongyuan Petrochemical" Too Similar to "China National Petroleum," Gas Station Claims Name Approved, Local Authorities Say They Will Investigate Potential "Brand Piggybacking"

Recently, a Hebei netizen posted, “I was careless, this looks too much like Sinopec!” While refueling, they wondered why the fuel price was so cheap, and the staff told them they were not Sinopec but Zhongyuan Petrochemical. In the comments, the netizen replied to another user that this gas station is on Shiqing Road, and only after refueling did they realize.

Source: Screenshot of video taken by netizen

The reporter noticed that the image posted by the netizen shows “Zhongyuan Petrochemical” in red with white characters, with the letters “SNOPEC,” which is only one letter different from Sinopec, also in red with white characters. The English letters are missing just one “I,” making it easy to confuse if not looked at carefully. The reporter privately messaged the netizen for more details but has not received a reply as of press time.

On the afternoon of the 23rd, the reporter contacted staff from the gas station, who said they have been operating this station for over 10 years, always using this name. Authorities have previously inquired about the name, and they have a business license with an approved name. When asked about the original idea for the name, they replied, “That’s none of your business.”

Source: Tianyancha

However, Tianyancha shows that this gas station is the Baichi Gan Gas Station of Zhongyuan Petrochemical in Luquan District, Shijiazhuang City, formerly known as Luquan Zhongyuan Petrochemical Gas Station.

A staff member from the Luquan District Market Supervision Administration told the reporter that judging solely by the station name is not sufficient; whether it infringes depends on the overall appearance and decoration. They will send someone for an on-site investigation and reply afterward.

The reporter found on the map that there are also some “Zhongyuan Petrochemical” gas stations in Henan, Anhui, Hunan, and other regions.

According to a July 2011 report from Shijiazhuang News Network, enforcement officers from Xinle City’s Administration found that a local gas station used the “Zhongyuan Petrochemical” sign similar to the registered “China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation” (Sinopec). After investigation, the station was registered locally as “Xinle Beifang Gas Station.” The Xinle City Administration concluded that the operator had infringed on the registered trademark rights and ordered them to cease illegal activities, imposing a fine of 16,000 yuan.

Additionally, a February 2015 report from Red Net stated that in Taojiang, Hunan, the local industry and commerce bureau investigated eight “copycat” gas stations using names like “Zhongyuan Petrochemical” and “Zhongyun Petrochemical.” According to Article 57 of the Trademark Law, using a similar trademark without permission constitutes an infringement of the registered trademark rights. The local bureau will take strict action against these infringing stations.

The reporter notes that previously, the major state-owned enterprises Sinopec, China National Petroleum Corporation, and China National Offshore Oil Corporation issued announcements warning about counterfeit products (“Li Gui”) and reminded the public to stay vigilant and prevent risks.

Source: Jimu News