Foreign direct investment brings an inflow of not only capital and advanced management skills into China, but also intangible assets of the foreign investor,such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade names, domain names, as well as trade secrets. How to protect intellectual property assets is a crucial issue to foreign investors. Chinese companies that make investments overseas also realize the importance of intellectual property protection.

To conform to its WTO obligations, China has amended and re-promulgated its Trademark Law on August 25, 2000, and its Copyright Law and Trademark Law on October 27, 2001. Our attorneys will update clients with the current laws and regulations so as to insure the client's intellectual property is protected.

With affiliated attorneys both in the U.S. and China who specialize in intellectual property in both nations, we are able to prepare and file applications for patent, trademark, copyright and domain name registration with the relevant Chinese and U.S. government registration authorities. Our intellectual property team is familiar with registration requirements and procedures; therefore, we are able to proceed and monitor the application procedure efficiently.

Backed by our litigation team, we are experienced in bringing intellectual property infringement lawsuits to the appropriate court, both in China and in the U.S., and in helping to enforce judgments. In China, other than litigation, we can petition with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce regarding trade name and trade secret infringement cases.

You may find detailed information at the following websites:

• State Intellectual Property Office of China
• Ministry of Science and Technology of China
• United States Patent and Trademark Office
• United States Copyright Office
• World Intellectual Property Organization

Full text of Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), Annex 1C of Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization

Please see the other practice areas of Chinese law in which we can provide consultations below:

• Anti-dumping
• Financing
• Arbitration & Litigation
• E-Commerce
• Corporate
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
• Intellectual Property
• International Trade
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Securities