IPR and China – Ways to deal with – Ways to deal withInfringement/counterfeiting

Preview:

Citation preview

IPR and ChinaIPR and China

– – Ways to deal with Ways to deal with

Infringement/counterfeitingInfringement/counterfeiting

Workshop Agenda

Ways to deal with Infringement/counterfeiting:Ways to deal with Infringement/counterfeiting:

Prevention - first & best

Detection – find out sooner rather than later

Enforcement – an attempt to cure problem

Prevention

There are laws in China:• Trademark, patent, copyright• Domain names• Trade secrets, tech transfer• Plant varieties, IC designs, etc

But China is a first to file jurisdiction and they know it….

PreventionT1. Statistics of Patent Applications in China by 2007

1,622,631

1,931,118

2,284,925

2,761,189

3,334,374

4,028,520

1,344,177

1,595,415

1,874,358

2,257,515

2,727,626

3,314,591

278,454 335,703410,567

503,674606,748

713,929

74,454 86,685 103,644 125,366 149,4810

250,000

500,000

750,000

1,000,000

1,250,000

1,500,000

1,750,000

2,000,000

2,250,000

2,500,000

2,750,000

3,000,000

3,250,000

3,500,000

3,750,000

4,000,000

4,250,000

until 2002 until 2003 until 2004 until 2005 unitl 2006 until 2007 Year

Number

Accumulated Total

Domestic

Foreign

EU

Prevention

T3. Statistics of Trademark Application of Registration in China 2002-2006

371,936

452,095

587,925

664,017

766,319

321,034

405,620

527,591

593,382

669,276

50,902 46,47560,334 70,635

97,043

16,712 15,955 20,720 24,72344,859

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

800,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Year

Number

Total

Domestic

Foreign

EU

Prevention

• Registering a trademark may cost 1,000 RMB

• What about the cost of not registering?

Case Study:

Prevention - recap

• Register IPR- Use a layered defence

• Domain names – a growing issue in China: list of officially recommended registrars on the CNNIC website: http://www.cnnic.net.cn/en/

index/0L/index.htm

• Keep trade secrets ‘secret’

• Contracts

• NDA / Confidentiality agreements

• Notarize

• Check & ensure IP materials used correctly

• Control labels / packaging / marketing material etc

Detection

• Police your market e.g.- Check suppliers

- Audit manufacturers

- Internet sweeps

- Feedback from customers/sales staff

- Market surveys

- Customs (China & EU)

• Trade Fairs- Check exhibitor contract

- Research other exhibitors

- Prepare an IP pack

- Determine strategy

Detection / Enforcement

- Prepare documents

- Collect basic info on suspected infringers

- Prepare explanation / evidence

- Power of Attorney

- Any Complaint Centre

Trade Fairs - Good preparation is key:

Guangzhou Trade Fair

Enforcement

Three strands of enforcement action:

1. Administrative action

2. Criminal action

3. Civil action

Enforcement

Administrative action:– There are over 30 different

administrative authorities. No-one coordinates nor investigates. You need to obtain evidence and convince the authorities, who can:

– carry out unannounced raids

– seize, impound and destroy fake goods

– issue punishment decisions– impose fines (not large)– revoke business licenses

Criminal action – usually escalated via Admin Authorities

SAIC building - Beijing

Enforcement - RaidsExamples of raids – car parts, garments, shoes

Enforcement - Raids

Exterior of Military area – PLA production base

Shoe boxes printed with sale price in £ & Euros

Factory making infringing footballs

Enforcement

Civil action – plenty of resources:- 120,000+ lawyers, 10,000+ law offices, 350,000 court staff

To guide you through the maze:– Trade associations / Chambers of Commerce etc– China IPR SME Helpdesk– Complaint Centers

Enforcement

Other options:• Take action outside China• Negotiate• Licence infringer• Do nothing

Summary

• You don’t have to be an expert –there are plenty out there

• Register rights – if you don’t own it you can’t protect it

• You need to be the first to file IPR in China• Use good contracts• Prevention better than cure• Be proactive

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!

Contact the Helpdesk:

www.china-iprhelpdesk.eu

Email: enquiries@china-iprhelpdesk.eu

Tel: +86 (10) 6462 0892

Fax: +86 (10) 6462 3206