'Father of hybrid rice' name, image bought for 51.51 mln yuan   

上市公司5151萬元買斷袁隆平冠名權和肖像權

隆平高科（000998）昨天發布公告稱，將買斷“袁隆平冠名權及肖像權”，以便在經營活動中獨占袁隆平院士的姓名權和肖像權，包括“袁隆平”、“隆平”及相應的中英文名稱，以及任何關于袁隆平院士肖像的圖片、照片。[查看全文]

(ECNS ) -- The exclusive name and image rights to Yuan Longping, China's "father of hybrid rice," have been purchased for 51.51 million yuan ($8.4 million).

Twenty-two companies had been using Yuan's name and image to promote their businesses. Yuan's brand value was estimated to be 51.51 million yuan as of June 30, 2014, according to an evaluation by Beifang Yashi, an asset appraisal company.

Longping High-Tech was the sole owner of Yuan Longping's name and image rights after the buyout.

The company paid the famous scientist 5.8 million yuan for the right to use his name when it went public in 2000. Yuan exchanged part of the payment for shares, becoming the fourth largest shareholder in the company.

Longping High-Tech consists of Hunan Longping High-tech Nongping Seeds Industry Co., Ltd.; Hunan Xiangyan Seeds Industry Co., Ltd; and other operating organizations.

Longping High-Tech mainly focuses on new crop variety breeding and innovation, seed multiplication and seed sales, according to its website.