Orange graphic with the text "BEYOND CHINA: WHY YOU NEED A CENTRAL TRADEMARK HUB" next to a globe icon marked by location pins.

Beyond China and Why You Need a Central Trademark/IP Hub 

Beyond China and Why You Need a Central Trademark/IP Hub  What we’re seeing as companies diversify beyond China In recent years, a large chunk of our work has been helping long-term and new China clients shift manufacturing and supply chains to other parts of Asia, as well as to Latin America and Europe. As they

Infographic on China technology licensing, featuring a map of China with digital circuits, and icons for security, regulations, safety, and restricted cloud access.

China Technology Licensing: A Comprehensive Guide

Technology licensing lets you sell into China without a physical presence. Here is a 2025 playbook for diligence, export controls, IP protection, payment verification, and negotiating tactics that actually work.

Illustration showing secure document registration and sharing processes in the U.S. and China, with a central lock symbolizing data protection.

Why Your China Software IP Strategy Is Probably Wrong (And How to Fix It)

Why Your China Software IP Strategy Is Probably Wrong (And How to Fix It) It started as a routine partnership. A fast-growing American software company needed a trusted partner in Shenzhen to manufacture its new IoT device. Eighteen months into the relationship, an email arrived with a link to a demo at a major tech

Graphic explaining that both the trademark and the company name must be translated in a China trademark application, with icons representing each item.

China Trademark Company Names: What You Must Know Before Filing

China Trademark Company Names: What Foreign Brands Must Know Before Filing Why a Chinese Name is Required for Your Trademark Filing in China If you file a trademark in China, you must provide a Chinese-language version of your company name for the application. China’s trademark registry maintains official records in Chinese, so the applicant’s name

A poster about China trademark registration, featuring a registered trademark symbol, a Chinese flag, and the silhouette of a person in a hat. Text discusses stopping brand squatting.

China Trademark Registration: How to Stop Squatters from Stealing Your Brand

Longtime readers of this blog have heard us say it before: register your trademark in China. Yet, we continue to see brands putting it off — and paying the price later when someone else registers the trademark. Don’t Let a Chinese Squatter Steal Your Brand: The Ultimate Guide to China Trademark Registration Your brand is

A graphic with the text "Inside the Trademark Mills: How Foreign Filing Abuses Are Undermining the U.S. Trademark System," featuring factory and magnifying glass icons.

China Trademark Mills Abuse the U.S. Trademark System

Inside the Trademark Mills: How Foreign Filing Abuses Are Undermining the U.S. Trademark System Earlier today, I received an unsolicited email from a Chinese IP firm—or someone claiming to be one. It’s similar to other messages I’ve received over the years from so-called “firms.” It read as follows: We are __________ Intellectual Property Co., Ltd.,

Illustration comparing individual and corporate trademark ownership, with a person on one side and an office building on the other, both displaying registered trademark symbols.

Who Should Own Your Trademarks: You or Your Company?

Who Should Own Your Trademarks? When launching a business, registering a trademark in the countries where you operate (including where you manufacture) is often, and wisely, one of the first steps you as an entrepreneur will take to protect your brand. But a deceptively simple question quickly arises: Who should own the trademark? You as

Illustration of a woman thinking with text "China Trademarks: The Goldilocks Principle of When to Register" and trademark symbols on a red background with a map of China.

When to Register Your China Trademark: The Goldilocks Principle

China Trademarks: The Goldilocks Principle of When to Register When it comes to China trademark registration, timing is everything. File too late, and someone else might beat you to your own brand. File too early, and you risk losing your trademark for non-use. Like Goldilocks, you need to get it just right. The Cautious Client:

Infographic showing steps to prevent manufacturers from copying products: conduct due diligence, register trademark, use NNN agreements, cut ties with unethical manufacturers.

China Manufacturer Copying You? Why a Trademark Beats an NNN Agreement Every Time

Unfortunately, writing an NNN Agreement after your manufacturer has copied your products is the equivalent of shutting the barn door after all the cows have left. I cannot help be candid here: your factory is demonstrating unethical business practices. And while I wish a piece of paper could magically transform such behavior, the reality is

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