The new Chinese Civil Code has been passed by the 13. National People’s Congress on May 28, 2020. It will come into effect on January 1, 2021 and amalgamates and elaborates several pre-existing laws. This laws, including but not limited to the Contract Law, the Rights in Rem Law, the Tort Liability Law and the… Continue reading Civil Code and Data Protection
Unfair Competition With WeChat Data Rights
In China, the first decision on unfair competition with data rights on internet platforms has recently been published. The background: Tencent, the king of social media, owns the data and limited data rights of the 900 million daily users of the app WeChat. It is known that Tencent shares a large part of this data… Continue reading Unfair Competition With WeChat Data Rights
Credit China: Objection Against Incorrect Social Credit Information Possible
In July 2020, Credit China, one of the main websites of the notorious Chinese Social Credit System, finally introduced an online system to apply for removal of wrong information displayed on the website and for rectification of information about administrative penalties. The information displayed on Credit China is collected from several relevant administrative authorities, combined… Continue reading Credit China: Objection Against Incorrect Social Credit Information Possible
The New Civil Code of the PRC and Intellectual Property
The new Civil Code of the PRC, which will come into force on 1 January 2021, consolidates and elaborates some existing laws. It does not have a dedicated IP part, so the lex specialis such as the Patent Law, Trademark Law, Unfair Competition Law and Copyright Law will remain in force. What is the impact… Continue reading The New Civil Code of the PRC and Intellectual Property
Blue Sky Project: Strict Monitoring the Trademark Agencies
In China, the first-to-file principle applies: the first person or company to register a trademark becomes the owner of the trademark. One of the biggest problems of foreign companies is trademark registration in bad faith: usually Chinese companies deliberately register the trademark(s) of a foreign company in order to make a profit from its use… Continue reading Blue Sky Project: Strict Monitoring the Trademark Agencies
China Promotes Blockchain for Evidence Preservation
In August 2020, the Chinese Supreme People’s Court published the Opinions on Enhancing Protection of Copyright and Related Rights (Draft for Comments).To improve the evidences rules in intellectual property litigation and help the IP right holders to get more comprehensive protection, especially to solve the difficulty of preserving evidence, this draft encourages the IP right… Continue reading China Promotes Blockchain for Evidence Preservation
The Great Wall of Patents: Decoupling Strengthens China’s IP Regime
China’s 14th five-year plan sets clear signals: Beijing will continue to decouple itself from the Western world, especially from the USA, and become more autonomous in many areas. Imports and supplies from abroad will be reduced, the domestic market strengthened and its own companies protected and promoted – also abroad. The concept of dual circulation,… Continue reading The Great Wall of Patents: Decoupling Strengthens China’s IP Regime
Breach of Business Secrets for the Benefit of Foreign Parties
In the draft for the extension of the criminal law, a new paragraph against industrial espionage in particular attracts attention: “Anyone who steals, spies on, buys or illegally makes available trade secrets for the benefit of foreign corporations, organizations or persons shall be punished with a prison sentence of up to 5 years or a… Continue reading Breach of Business Secrets for the Benefit of Foreign Parties
China’s National Security Law: Restrictions on Data and Technology
The National Security Law (NSL), which came into force in June 2020, has implications for Hong Kong-based businesses in terms of technology and data. For example, Internet service providers must now grant the authorities access to user data and review their cross-border data flows. Technology companies must restructure their business activities if Western export bans… Continue reading China’s National Security Law: Restrictions on Data and Technology
China’s New Data Protection Law Requires More Compliance
The National People’s Congress presented the draft for the new Data Security Law (DSL) in July 2020. In contrast to the Cyber Security Law (CSL), which has been in force since 2017, the Data Security Law will regulate all data activities within the country. The scope of the new DSL law is thus exceptionally broad:… Continue reading China’s New Data Protection Law Requires More Compliance
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