Bad Faith Trademark Filings in China China is a Hotspot for Trademark Squatting Every year, thousands of international brands discover that their trademarks have already been registered in China by third-party entities. Imagine spending years building a brand, only to be locked out of the Chinese market by an opportunistic trademark squatter. For companies caught
China Product Development Agreements Navigating product development is critical, especially when partnering with Chinese manufacturers. This stage is laden with risks that can jeopardize the entire project. In this post, I will delve into the crucial role of China Product Development Agreements, and how to avoid the common mistakes foreign companies make when having their
Trademark Protection for International Companies Thinking your trademarks are safe just because you registered them? Think again—especially if your business is expanding abroad. Trademark protection is crucial for companies manufacturing and distributing products overseas. While many large multinationals have armies of lawyers monitoring their intellectual property rights (IPR), small- and medium-sized businesses expanding internationally often
A Guide to China Customs IP Recordation Protecting your intellectual property (IP) in and from China is not an option—it’s an imperative, especially if you are having your products made in China. Protecting your IP from China requires a strategic approach to IP registration, especially given the prevalence of counterfeiting and the complexity of China’s
Debunking Common China IP Myths Understanding intellectual property (IP) rights and navigating counterfeiting challenges in China are essential yet daunting tasks for foreign businesses. Despite a reputation marred by complex IP issues, much of the conventional wisdom on the subject is based on outdated information or persistent myths. In this post, we address and debunk
China’s Corporate Espionage Playbook Reports of intellectual property (IP) theft and corporate espionage involving China are nothing new. For those familiar with China’s business practices, these stories come as no surprise. However, recent insights from U.S. intelligence highlight how China’s tactics are evolving, creating new challenges for foreign companies. Your China IP Risks are Human,
Beware the Online China NNN Agreement Your Intellectual Property Is at Risk with Online China NNN Agreements. In China Contract Drafting Scams: From Bad to Much Worse, I wrote about fake Chinese lawyers and Chinese lawyers who American and European companies would hire and pay, only to have them take money from the Chinese company
China Licensing Negotiations Our China lawyers have been increasingly drafting contracts for foreign companies licensing their brand names, concepts, or technologies for use in China. Historically, this type of licensing was primarily confined to the industrial sector. Nowadays, a significant portion of our work involves crafting licensing agreements for companies eager to tap into the
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
