China NNN Agreements

China NNN Agreements and How to Give Them Real Teeth

As I noted in my previous post on China NNN agreements, for enforcement purposes you must make sure your China NNN agreement has teeth. To understand how enforcement works under Chinese law, we need to do a little work. The first point to realize is that the standard approach for enforcing an IP contract under the common law (this is the law in the United States and the UK and most of the British world) has no application under Chinese law. In the common law system, lawyers are mostly concerned with two issues. First, the rule that disfavors liquidated damage provisions. Second, the law/equity distinction that allows only for injunctive relief when a law (damages) remedy is not available.

The three keys to Protecting Your IP in China

The Three Keys to Protecting Your IP in China and Internationally

A new client the other day asked me what it should be doing to protect its IP in China and I asked whether they wanted the ten minute version or the ten day version. Fortunately for the both of us (and not surprisingly), they chose the ten minute version and the below is basically that.

trademarking Chinese words

Trademarking Chinese Words

For some brands, trademarking Chinese words or phrases might hit just the right note in terms of image. BBQ pork buns sound appetizing, but describing them as char siu bao provides a special touch. And for established brands from the Chinese-speaking world, Chinese words may already be an indelible part of their identity. Yet the

How to License Your IP

How to License Your IP to China

For companies seeking access to the China market, an IP license is often the best way forward. However, companies need to be smart about it. Specifically, they should resist the temptation to recycle licensing agreements used in other contexts, and instead use agreements specifically drafted for use in China, taking into account China-specific conditions. 1.

China product development

China Product Development Models and Risks

China product development is fraught with risks. This post explains the two main product development models employed by Chinese companies and explains the advantages and disadvantages of both. I am writing about product development here because in my experience and that of my company, the product development stage is both the easiest and mostly likely time for your Chinese counterparty to run off with your IP or even your product. 

China online gaming IP

China Online Gaming IP

China presents a wealth of opportunities for foreign gaming companies, but (and this is true of pretty much every IP-laden industry), it also presents substantial risks. This post sets out the basics on how online gaming companies can protect their IP in China via China IP registrations. Though our law firm represents a host (sort-of-pun intended) of online gaming companies, we have been hesitant to write specifically about largely because it is not all that legally different from other industries. But because we have lately been getting emails requesting we do so, we will. Starting now.

How to protect your IP from China with China IP lawyers

How to Avoid Inadvertently Gifting your IP to your Foreign Manufacturer

My law firm represents many foreign companies that do OEM manufacturing around the world -- mostly China, but India, Mexico, Brazil, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Cambodia as well.  In our discussions with our clients that manufacturing in foreign countries, we nearly always discuss what they can and should be doing to

Manufacturing Outside China

Manufacturing Outside China: Nike Likes It And You Should Too

What can you learn from what Nike is doing? You can learn that there are plenty of countries other than China that manufacture quality items at a price that makes sense for a highly sophisticated international company like Nike and that alone ought to open your eyes to the manufacturing world outside China. Due to tariffs and shipping costs, manufacturing outside China makes increasing sense for many companies.

International technology licensing agreements

The Benefits of International Licensing

There have always been benefits to international licensing, but the benefits of international licensing have increased due to COVID. and too many business owners miss the opportunity to generate revenue and increase their business' value by licensing their technology internationally.

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