On 26 October, the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China passed the new Chinese Encryption Act (密码法), which will come into force on 1 January 2020. It can be seen as a further addition to the cyber security regime that China has been developing for years and which has gained momentum with… Continue reading Access still allowed – The new Chinese Encryption Law
Geographical Indications of Origin: The Protection Agreement Will Come in 2020
New perspectives for combating false claims on food and beverages: The European-Chinese marathon negotiations on the protection of geographical indications of origin have been officially concluded. The agreement, which is still under legal scrutiny and will have to pass through the European Parliament and the Council, will enter into force in 2020. The agreement is… Continue reading Geographical Indications of Origin: The Protection Agreement Will Come in 2020
Autonomous Driving: Dealing with Trade Secrets
In the field of autonomous driving, the decision as to whether an invention should be patented or kept undisclosed as a trade secret is increasingly becoming a key factor for future market success. The reason: the employees in this highly innovative, very dynamic and more converging segment of the automotive and digital industries are not… Continue reading Autonomous Driving: Dealing with Trade Secrets
IP Crime Conference in Cape Town: Can the Public Sector Keep Up?
A clear result of the IP Crime Conference in Cape Town: According to prosecuting authorities, brand and product piracy is becoming increasingly digital and transnational. Counterfeiters today are technologically highly advanced and have a global reach – their products are produced in the country A, transported via the country B and sold in the country… Continue reading IP Crime Conference in Cape Town: Can the Public Sector Keep Up?
Protection of Embedded Software in China
The value of machines is increasingly shifting from the actual machine to the embedded systems and thus above all to the embedded software. This means that in addition to protecting the machine with traditional IP, i.e. patents, utility models and designs, the software should also be protected as good as possible. So how can embedded… Continue reading Protection of Embedded Software in China
Protection and Enforcement of Trade Secrets in China: Regulatory Changes and Implications for Companies
Webinar – October 9, 2019 – 4 p.m. CET The last amendment of the Anti-Unfair Competition Law has been in force in China since the end of April 2019. A new paragraph has been introduced which will have a very direct and specific impact on case law. It regulates the burden of proof in civil… Continue reading Protection and Enforcement of Trade Secrets in China: Regulatory Changes and Implications for Companies
From Belt and Road to Greater Bay
The Belt and Road Initiative is heralding a slowdown in investment. This is due to the economic and technological war between China and the USA, which will continue for years, probably even decades, and will continue to drive the decoupling of the two largest economies in the world – regardless of the Trump administration, because… Continue reading From Belt and Road to Greater Bay
Easing of China’s Negative List for Foreign Companies
Under the new Investment Law, the People’s Republic of China has reduced the list of investments that are prohibited or restricted for foreign companies from 48 to 40 areas. In particular, restrictions have been lifted in mining and public transport services, education and culture. The restrictions in the automotive sector are to be completely lifted… Continue reading Easing of China’s Negative List for Foreign Companies
Impacts of China’s Foreign Investment Law
In January 2020 the Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China will come into force. The three laws, Chinese-Foreign Equity Joint Ventures Law, Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise Law and the Chinese-Foreign Contractual Joint Ventures Law, that have regulated foreign investments in China up to now, will then be abolished. The sudden adoption of a… Continue reading Impacts of China’s Foreign Investment Law
Know-How Protection in Pharmaceutical Companies
Four years have passed since the first proposal of the strategic plan Made in China 2025 (MiC 2025). Although China is toning down the public media coverage and official statements regarding the MiC 2025, the plan is still running. Its goals focus on high-tech areas, including the pharmaceutical industry. The MiC 2025 plan sets ambitious… Continue reading Know-How Protection in Pharmaceutical Companies
