IP Protection in New Areas

Intellectual property protection has always been high on the Chinese agenda. For example, the Made in China 2025 strategy aims to transform Chinese enterprises from manufacturers into owners and creators of intellectual property in the global economy. In September and October 2021, China published the Outline of Building an IPR Powerhouse (2021-2035) and the 14th… Continue reading IP Protection in New Areas

Undesirable Technology Transfer through Chinese Investment

The method is familiar, what is new is that a lawsuit is being filed over it. Highly innovative U.S. company Icon Aircraft has filed a lawsuit in Delaware Chancery Court against its Chinese majority shareholders, including major shareholder Shanghai Pudong Science and Technology Investment (PDSTI). Icon developed the A5 amphibious aircraft, which set new standards… Continue reading Undesirable Technology Transfer through Chinese Investment

Creative Commons and Copyleft: Open-Source Licenses in China

Free open source software is highly popular in China. A recent report by the Chinese think tank China Academy for Information and Communication Technology (CAICT) states that in 2019, 87.4% of Chinese companies had already used open source technologies, and by now the figure is likely to be even higher. Standardized licenses (public copyright licenses),… Continue reading Creative Commons and Copyleft: Open-Source Licenses in China

To Punitive Damages by Sending Lawyer’s Letter

In protecting intellectual property rights in China, the effect of a lawyer’s letter is generally limited. Lawyer letters have also been sent with caution because they can have unpleasant side effects. They can not only trigger aggressive countermeasures from the recipient, but also damage the legitimate rights and interests of the opponent, triggering unfair competition… Continue reading To Punitive Damages by Sending Lawyer’s Letter

Settlement as A Choice of IP Infringement Case in China

For many foreign companies, after IP infringement is discovered in China, filing a lawsuit to order the infringer to stop infringement and pay damages is the best way to resolve the problem. However, in Chinese judicial practice, settlement negotiations, if used properly, can not only effectively resolve disputes, but can even achieve goals that litigation… Continue reading Settlement as A Choice of IP Infringement Case in China

BVLGARI Is Recognized as Well-Known Trademark in China

The High People’s Court of Guangdong Province has recognized the BVLGARI / 宝格丽 trademark as a well-known trademark and granted cross-class protection. Between 2013 and 2014, the TASKIN group of companies (德思勤) used the BVLGARI (宝格丽), Baogene and BVLGARI Apartment (宝格丽公寓) trademarks for its commercial property sales service. The use included the use of these… Continue reading BVLGARI Is Recognized as Well-Known Trademark in China

Repeated trademark infringement: High punitive damages in China

Shanghai has a new precedent: The court in Pudong, within the framework of a trademark infringement lawsuit, for the first time imposed the maximum possible punitive damages of 3 million RMB at the time of the judgement, which corresponds to almost 390,000 EUR.almost 390,000 EUR. As of December 1, 2019, the statutory punitive damages will… Continue reading Repeated trademark infringement: High punitive damages in China