I recently discussed with a client what steps it should take to protect its trade secrets across the various countries where it manufactures products and conducts business. Although this client has been operating internationally for nearly a decade, it now faces the challenge of bringing its most valuable intellectual property into competitive, and sometimes risky,
Counterfeits in the U.S.A. Unfortunately, that's not a parody of John Mellencamp's classic song R.O.C.K in the U.S.A., but rather a growing problem. And your business needs to take action to mitigate the risks to its brands. For a long time, conversations about counterfeiting have focused on what happens overseas, not just in terms of
IP Strategies for the China Plus One Era I recently had a discussion with several of my law firm's international lawyers about how so many of our clients are expanding their manufacturing operations or product sourcing beyond China. These clients now have an "international" strategy in which China is just one component, or in some
China IP Risks are Rising Earlier this week, in my blog post, Protecting Your IP from an Increasingly Rapacious China, I discussed the growing threats to intellectual property (IP) posed by deteriorating relations between China and the West I highlighted how these strained relations, coupled with China's struggling economy, have led to an alarming increase
Registering U.S. State Name Trademarks in China Many brands, from craft breweries to universities, incorporate their U.S. state names into their trademarks. This not only reflects their origins but also evokes a sense of heritage and trust. However, for brands looking to enter the vast Chinese market, a significant hurdle awaits. Registering trademarks that include
How to Deal with IP Infringement Our international intellectual property lawyers are often called upon to help companies whose IP has been compromised or infringed upon. We have formulated the following basic checklist for handling these IP problems, be they international or domestic. 1. Identify the client's IP problem This step is sometimes straightforward, but
China Trademarks Matter We are on record (and then some) about the importance of registering your trademark in China. In spite of our efforts -- or perhaps because of them -- nearly every week someone contacts us after discovering someone else has registered “their” trademarks in China. Most people lump all such third-party registrants together
Avoiding China IP Licensing Pitfalls In recent years, our law firm has represented dozens of businesses licensing their intellectual property (IP) to companies in China, covering a wide range of sectors from product manufacturing and distribution to entertainment. Despite their sophisticated IP licensing experience, many businesses are often unprepared for many common pitfalls in China
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
