Fudan University based in Shanghai, one of China's elite places for higher learning, has registered its name as a trademark.
The Shanghai Municipal Administration for Industry and Commerce confirmed on Tuesday it has certificated trademarks for Fudan University and 177 other enterprises in the city.
Fudan University is the first college of higher learning to register its name as a trademark in Shanghai.
Liu Jiping, an official in charge of the general affairs office of Fudan University, said applying to trademark "Fudan" is meant to better protect the university from unauthorized use of its name by private businesses.
"Being confirmed as a famous trademark we are efficiently protected from the industrial and commercial department in case there is an infringement," said Liu.
There were 110,000 patented trademarks in Shanghai by late 2006.
(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2007)