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 Trademark Oppositions Have you discovered that someone is applying for a trademark suspiciously similar to yours in China? Don’t panic! This blog post will guide you through the process of filing an opposition with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA). What CNIPA Looks For When evaluating trademark oppositions, CNIPA focuses on two key
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
China IP Risks are Rising With the fraying of relations between China and the West, Chinese companies are becoming increasingly concerned about their ability to maintain long-term relationships with foreign companies. Add in a flailing Chinese economy and you can understand why the incidence of Chinese companies “grabbing” IP from the foreign companies with which
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
China Trademarks: Meet Goldilocks In going through old emails, I found one I wrote to an Australian client seeking Chinese government approval to sell its product in China. The client wanted to know if it should register a China trademark for its brand name and logo, even though there was a good chance the product
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
Why NDAs Are Useless for Protecting Your Intellectual Property in China Since we started this blog, we have emphasized the importance of using NNN Agreements for China, and not Western Style NDA Agreements. Most companies now understand this, but twice in the last few weeks I have had to tell an American company that it
