Patents and Data: Extraterritorial Effect of Chinese Laws

China’s Five-Year Plan calls for the development of a Chinese-style socialist rule of law that also has an impact abroad. The country is to distinguish itself as a first-choice jurisdiction for resolving cross-border disputes and promote the application of Chinese law abroad. International legal and regulatory norms should be amended and the Chinese legal system… Continue reading Patents and Data: Extraterritorial Effect of Chinese Laws

Regionalization: Avoiding Loss of Control

Many international companies are currently considering regionalizing their production and upstream supply chains for specific markets to a greater extent and making their subsidiaries in different world regions more independent of each other. The goal is to secure supply chains by deepening regional value creation and to better meet regional customer needs through regionally manufactured… Continue reading Regionalization: Avoiding Loss of Control

DSL: What is “Important Data”?

The Data Security Law (DSL), which further strengthens China’s regulation of data security, will come into effect on September 1, 2021. The critical question for foreign companies is to what extent they will be affected by the DSL. The crux of the matter here is the so-called “important data.” This special category of data is… Continue reading DSL: What is “Important Data”?

Chinese GDPR: On the Safe Side

China has taken another step toward data protection with the release of the second draft revision of the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL). Although not the final law, it appears that personal data protection legislation has entered the final stages, and it is believed that the PIPL will soon be formally enacted. It is not… Continue reading Chinese GDPR: On the Safe Side

The Obligation to Localize Data Affects More Companies

When it comes to data protection in China, data localization is inevitable for foreign companies. The basic requirements are currently mainly set out in the Cyber Security Law, and many service providers such as the financial sector, providers of public health information, and online cab booking services have issued their own data localization requirements. The… Continue reading The Obligation to Localize Data Affects More Companies

China’s New Biosecurity Law Affects European Companies

China’s Biosecurity Law, which comes into force on 15 April 2021, is the new framework for the nearly one hundred laws, regulations and rules already in place in this area. It contains regulations on a wide range of topics – including the prevention and control of epidemic diseases, the establishment of a risk monitoring and… Continue reading China’s New Biosecurity Law Affects European Companies

Stricter Criminal Law Punishes Industrial Espionage

China continues to tighten the legal reins in the prosecution of industrial espionage – even for foreign companies. In October 2020, the National People’s Congress published a new draft amendment to China’s criminal law, which includes better protection of trade secrets. In recent months, China has issued a number of amendments to the law or… Continue reading Stricter Criminal Law Punishes Industrial Espionage

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

Impact Covid-19: Law, Measures, Strategies in China-Business

Covid-19 will change the business of many European companies in and with China. Established industry structures will be shaken, supply chains will be decoupled, and demand and employment will decline. Preferences of market participants are shifting and the digital space is gaining in importance. The Chinese state will intervene even more strongly in the economy… Continue reading Impact Covid-19: Law, Measures, Strategies in China-Business

Protection of Trade Secrets: The long Arm of the USA

As trade secrets are becoming more and more important for many companies, the question of how companies can enforce their rights against a foreign company is gaining in importance. The laws and regulations for the protection of trade secrets vary widely in different countries. There is no common standard for common law countries or civil… Continue reading Protection of Trade Secrets: The long Arm of the USA