"Totally missed it!" I only realized after refueling that it was "Zhongyuan Petrochemical"...

On March 24, the topic #中园石化碰瓷中国石化# trended, sparking heated discussions among netizens.

Recently, a netizen from Hebei posted saying, “I was careless, this is too similar to Sinopec!” The netizen recalled being puzzled as to why the gas prices were so cheap, but the staff clarified that they were not Sinopec, but Zhongyuan Petrochemical.

Image source: The person’s social media account

The image posted by the netizen shows “Zhongyuan Petrochemical” in red background with white text, which is only one character different from Sinopec, also in red background with white text. The English “SNOPEC” is just missing one letter “I”.

Image source: @Sinopec

The relevant personnel from the gas station responded that the station has been operating for over ten years and has always used that name, which has been approved.

In response, many netizens questioned whether names like “Zhongyuan Petrochemical” suggest trademark infringement.

According to Jimu News, the reporter checked Tianyancha and found that the gas station is the Zhongyuan Petrochemical Baichigan Gas Station in Luquan District, Shijiazhuang City, previously named Luquan City Zhongyuan Petrochemical Gas Station.

Image source: Tianyancha

A staff member from the Luquan District Market Supervision Administration responded that it is difficult to determine solely based on the station name, and whether there is infringement needs to be assessed based on the decoration situation. They will send someone to investigate on-site.

Such situations are not isolated. According to previous reports, a gas station in Yizheng City, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, was administratively fined 10,000 yuan for infringing on Sinopec’s registered trademark rights. The signage used by the station was similar to Sinopec’s official logo, which could easily confuse consumers and mislead them, harming consumer interests.

Lawyer: May constitute trademark infringement and unfair competition

Chen Yanhong, vice president and senior equity partner at Beijing Deheheng Law Firm, told China Youth Daily that from a legal perspective, this behavior may constitute trademark infringement and unfair competition.

According to Article 57, Paragraph 2 of the Trademark Law of the People’s Republic of China, using a trademark similar to a registered trademark on the same type of goods or services without the permission of the trademark registrant, which is likely to cause confusion, constitutes infringement of the exclusive rights to the registered trademark. Sinopec has exclusive rights to the registered trademarks “Sinopec,” “SINOPEC,” and related combinations, approved for use in retail services of refined oil, and the trademark has achieved a high level of market recognition and distinctiveness through long-term use.

“Zhongyuan Petrochemical” uses “Zhongyuan Petrochemical,” “SNOPEC,” and a similar red background with white text for signs, light boxes, and other commercial identifiers within the same retail service for refined oil, which constitutes trademark use; its name is only one character different from “Sinopec,” and the shape and pronunciation are highly similar. The English identifier “SNOPEC,” differing by just one letter “I,” may likely cause consumer confusion in overall visual and phonetic aspects, leading to potential recognition as trademark infringement.

Moreover, the actions of “Zhongyuan Petrochemical” may also constitute unfair competition. By deliberately mimicking the name, English identifier, sign color scheme, and overall layout of “Sinopec,” if there is a clear malice to attach to others’ reputation or “free ride,” it may objectively confuse ordinary consumers and possibly disrupt fair market competition, which could be deemed as unfair competition under the law.

The Beijing News commented that the high similarity between “Zhongyuan Petrochemical” and “Sinopec” is likely not coincidental. Such naming makes it difficult for the involved businesses to escape the suspicion of name squatting. Regulatory authorities should quickly intervene, and brand protection should not allow for “visual traps,” nor should “counterfeits” be allowed to confuse the genuine article.

China Youth Daily (ID: zqbcyol Intern reporter: Fan Xing Editor: Li Li) partly compiled: Jimu News, Yangzhou Traffic Radio, the person’s social media account, netizen comments, etc.