Beware the China Mutual NDA 1. A China Mutual NDA Will Not Help YOU Should I Sign a Mutual NDA With a China factory? Our international manufacturing lawyers get this question once a week, which is up from maybe once a year only a few years ago. Our usual answer is no, because these agreements
Rethinking China Operations: Third-Party Hiring Agencies As foreign companies reduce their China operations to minimize risk, they often turn to third-party hiring agencies to staff projects without a local entity. But relying on these dispatch firms creates a major vulnerability: loss of valuable IP if specific protections aren’t in place. This post delves into how
China Trademarks and Global Political Conflicts Russia’s War and Its Impact on China Brands Russia’s invasion of Ukraine highlights the brand risks international companies face when geopolitical conflicts force a market exit. Many companies that left Russia found their trademarks being used without their consent, leading to a devaluation of their brand. In particular, the
Fighting China IP Infringement: The Power of Cease-and-Desist Letters With IP infringement in China rising amid geopolitical tensions and China’s sinking economy, many companies are scrambling to protect their intellectual property. But legal action can be slow and expensive. Well-crafted cease-and-desist letters can often provide a faster, more affordable recourse. My law firm’s international IP
A China Trademark is a Terrible Thing to Waste I often get emails from people asking what my law firm charges for registering trademarks in China and I always respond by quoting our rate for a trademark analysis and stating that we will not “just” register their trademark in the category they tell us. If
The Importance of International Trademark Protection With the increasing internationalization of business and heightening geopolitical tensions, protecting your brand’s identity internationally is more important than ever. Yet many companies still fail to recognize that they need an international trademark strategy. This post outlines why neglecting global trademarks poses risks and explains how to mitigate those
Manufacturing in Mexico vs China A growing number of companies manufacturing in China are looking to move their manufacturing out of China entirely or to reduce their footprint there by adding manufacturing elsewhere. The choice of manufacturing location can profoundly impact cost-effectiveness, logistical efficiency, and overall competitiveness. This post focuses on the transition from manufacturing
China’s Data Security Landscape This post addresses the options foreign companies have for operating in China and protecting their critical data. The assumption is usually that there must be a technical solution that allows foreign companies to protect their private technical data in China. The problem is technical, so there must be a technical solution.
Navigating the New Era of International Manufacturing The landscape of international manufacturing contracts has undergone significant shifts. If you’ve sensed this change, rest assured, you’re not alone. Gone are the days when international procurement largely meant buying “off-the-shelf” products like t-shirts or computer bags — items that followed universal standards. The game began to change
The Madrid Trademark System Securing global trademark protection is crucial for establishing strong brand recognition internationally. This post provides an overview of the Madrid Trademark System and how it can be leveraged to improve your global trademark protections, along with examining the alternative procedures required for territories outside the Madrid framework. The Madrid Trademark System
