China VIE

China VIEs: Avoid, Avoid, Avoid

VIE stands for variable interest entity and they are entities used to allow a company in China to technically be a Chinese domestic company, but be de facto controlled by a foreign-owned entity or entities. VIE structures are usually used to allow foreign companies to get involved in various sectors of China’s economy forbidden to

China video games

World of Warcraft as China Metaphor

When I served on a China panel at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business last month, I met Dan Maas, who asked me for my thoughts on what had been happening to World of Warcraft in China. It took me about ten seconds to figure out Dan knew far more about what was happening on that

China criminal law

How to Violate Chinese Law and Get Away With It: Don’t Go There.

In Cashing in on Internet Censorship, CNN News writes how business for Virtual Private Network (VPN) companies is booming these days, thanks largely to China and Iran. The article discusses how “foreign companies are profiting from software that allows circumvention of government internet controls.” The article quotes one of my law firm’s international attorneys  on how

China spies on foreign businesses

China: The Walls Have Ears

China is watching you. I am convinced about 99.9% of all emails go through. But to me, that means at least a few of the emails I send each week will not reach its destination. If I do not hear back from someone rather quickly, I just assume they did not get my email and