The Netherlands is the first country in the European Union to present key points for a constructive, but at the same time critical China-strategy. The strategic goal is to reweight bilateral relations between the two countries. In its cooperation with China, the Netherlands wants to seize opportunities whenever possible and protect its interests whenever necessary.… Continue reading China-Strategy as a Balance
Growth Market Copyright
The rapid development of the Chinese digital economy is also reflected in the area of digital copyrights. In 2018, this hitherto rather exotic market reached a volume of 742.3 billion yuan, an increase of 16.6% over the previous year. This extraordinary increase is not only due to the constant innovations within the digital industries, but… Continue reading Growth Market Copyright
Trade Secrets vs. Patents
Counterfeiting and trade secrets are still the biggest challenges for many IP managers in China. Patents in many industries are now about software, especially in the automotive industry. The biggest challenge is seen in protecting software-related technologies, the problem being patentability. This development corresponds to the task of improving the quality of intellectual property rights.… Continue reading Trade Secrets vs. Patents
Protection of Geographical Indications
The EU has adopted a new regulation for spirits that defines labelling standards and strengthens the protection of geographical indications (GI) compared to trademark rights. It will enter into force after official publication in the Official Journal of the European Union and will be largely applicable until 2021. The new Regulation clarifies the standards for… Continue reading Protection of Geographical Indications
Lego Fakes: USD 30 Million Losses
The case is making international headlines: In April 2019, the police in Shanghai smashed a ring of counterfeiters that manufactured and distributed counterfeit toys made by the Danish company Lego. The goal of the action was the Chinese toy manufacturer Lepin. The police raided three locations with ten assembly lines, which were subsequently closed. This… Continue reading Lego Fakes: USD 30 Million Losses
Stricter Control of Experimental Data in China
In the field of pharmaceutical and chemical substances, inconsistencies in the experimental data of a patent application in China can lead to the doubts on patent’s validity. The Higher People’s Court in Peking has decided in multiple cases that submission of incomplete or false data violates the “quid pro quo” principle in disclosing the patent… Continue reading Stricter Control of Experimental Data in China
E-Car Start Up XPeng: New Trade Secrets Theft Accusations
Last year FBI started criminal prosecutions against a former Apple employee who stole the secret technology for self-driving cars. Now, Tesla is suing out of same reasons a former employee of their Autopilot team. What is the connection between the two defendants? Mr. Zhang and Mr. Cao are not only countrymen but were also switching… Continue reading E-Car Start Up XPeng: New Trade Secrets Theft Accusations
Small Packages and Complex Routes
Every year, the OECD’s Illicit Trade series study records the current situation of global illegal trade. According to the study, the EU is particularly affected by international trade in counterfeit and pirated products, with around a quarter of all fakes flowing into the European Community in 2016. The counterfeit goods had a value of EUR… Continue reading Small Packages and Complex Routes
Hacking from China: Europe as a New Target
The pressure from the USA on China is bringing it along: Chinese hackers are increasingly aiming for targets in Europe. Between November 2017 and December 2018, the Norwegian company Visma was attacked by hackers from China with the goal of obtaining data on intellectual property and trade secrets. Visma is a provider of software and… Continue reading Hacking from China: Europe as a New Target
Can Single-Color Trademarks Be Protected in China?
The French designer Christian Louboutin has become world-famous for his iconic shoe design – sky-high heels and red shoe soles. The trademark for the red sole was registered in the Benelux in 2010 and the explicit registration for high-heeled shoes followed in 2013. A few years ago Louboutin went to court against the Dutch subsidiary… Continue reading Can Single-Color Trademarks Be Protected in China?
China Intellectual Property Blog 