China Intellectual Property Protections If you are doing business in or with China (and this includes having your products made in China), you need to safeguard your intellectual property (IP) rights there. Intellectual property encompasses intangible creations such as trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets. Trademarks: These are recognizable symbols, phrases, or logos that identify
When companies come to my law firm to protect their brand names from Chinese copycats, our international trademark lawyers typically tell them that applying for such a trademark takes about a week, but actually getting the trademark takes about ten months. We then tell them that until they get their Chinese trademark, they will be
Cutting Legal Corners in Emerging Markets Introduction It can be tempting to take shortcuts to expedite processes or reduce costs in an emerging market country. But these shortcuts often lead to legal and reputational risks that can have severe consequences for your business. Despite assurances (usually given to you by your local employee/fixer/partner) that your
How to Open a Bank Account in China If you’re planning to live, work, or invest in China, opening a bank account is often one of the first essential steps you’ll need to take. This guide will walk you through the entire process, from selecting the right bank to understanding key considerations, such as fees,
Closing Down Your China WFOE Thinking of pulling the plug on your WFOE? For many foreign companies, the initial excitement of doing business in China has given way to the complexities of navigating complex and ever-growing regulations and a faltering economy. If you’ve decided it’s time to close your WFOE, don’t make the costly mistake
CFIUS Reporting Requirements The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is an interagency committee that reviews certain transactions involving foreign investment in the United States. Its role is to identify and address any national security risks that could arise from these potential investments. With increasing global tensions over technological competition and supply
Legal Compliance for Your China Operations The Chinese market still offers vast potential for many businesses, but navigating its legal environment requires ongoing attention. As Chinese regulations and economic conditions shift, foreign companies benefit from prioritizing legal compliance. Compliance with Chinese law goes beyond simply avoiding penalties. It demonstrates your company’s commitment to responsible business
Paying Chinese Companies for Product that Never Arrives Two to three times a week, my law firm will get a query from a company that paid for Chinese product and received absolutely nothing. The below is a good example of what we just keep getting. This is an e-mail (modified to hide any possible identifiers)
China Payment Terms Negotiating payment terms with Chinese companies is one of the trickiest aspects of doing business with China. Vague milestones, unpaid invoices, and last-minute changes are common complaints. This post provides key strategies to ensure your company gets paid in full and on time when working with Chinese companies. Whenever one of our
China Trademark Registered? Here’s How to Keep it Working for You What happens when you register a China trademark? What follows is an example of the emails our China trademark lawyers send clients after their trademark is registered, with some additional notes in bold italics. Dear Roberta, I am pleased to enclose the registration certificate
