Ranking Creditors: Chinese Companies are Dead Last.
No need to pay your Chinese creditors because they rarely will do anything about it.
China Scams: The Holiday Edition
One of our oldest and most cherished traditions is to write about China scams at the end of every year. We do this because history shows this is the biggest month for them. Scammers increase their activities at the end of the year, hoping to be less noticed/less examined due to the usual end of
Green Trademarks in China are Getting Red Lights
Green trademarks are running into red lights in China. Just about every application to register a mark that includes the word “green” is being rejected. Rumor has it that concerns over greenwashing are to blame, though given the opaque nature of the application process this cannot be confirmed. Greenwashing is the “practice of making unwarranted
China Joint Ventures: Everything You Should Know
Despite (or in many cases because of) the increasing difficulties foreign companies face in doing business in China, there remains nearly as much interest in China joint ventures as ever. Our China lawyers have also seen a recent uptick in companies needing help with failed and failing joint ventures, which is to be expected as
Does U.S. Trademark Law Apply Worldwide?
The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear a trademark infringement case arising under the Lanham Act that has huge implications for manufacturers and sellers of products based outside the U.S. The case is Hetronic International, Inc. v. Hetronic Germany GMBH, et al. The case arises from a $114 million judgment for an industrial
Crypto Trademarks and China
Crypto trademarks are a no-go in China. In line with the country’s prohibitions on cryptocurrencies, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) will not register trademarks that describe crypto goods and/or services. Brands in the crypto space must be mindful of this reality when crafting brand and intellectual property rights protection strategies for China. China
Three Things Everyone Leaving China for Mexico Should Know
Mexico is about to be transformed into a major commercial & manufacturing center – but it’s not trying to be the “factory of the world” and it never will be. If you manufacture products for the US market (or supply companies that do), Mexico will play a bigger role in your business decisions. If you are in certain high-tech sectors, or rely heavily on OEM or contract manufacturing, Mexico may present more challenges than benefits
New China Law Boosts Women’s Protection
Women's protection will get a legal boost in China starting on January 1, 2023, when the latest revision of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests (中华人民共和国妇女权益保障法) goes into effect.
Manufacturing Outside China: Apple Likes It and You Should Too
Manufacturing Outside China: Apple Likes It and You Should Too
How to Avoid Getting Scammed When Buying Product Overseas (Including from Alibaba)
It is a helluva lot easier and cheaper to avoid losing money than to recover money that has already been lost. Whether you use Alibaba or not, there are certain "rules" you should follow when sourcing products from China and those rules include (1) conducting due diligence on your potential supplier, (2) protecting your IP, and (3) having a good contract with your supplier. And yes, all of this applies no matter what the color star your supplier has on Alibaba.