International Law

Financial Times Seems to Think Chinese Infringement of Chinese IP Is a New Trend

By Stan

Chinese companies are falling victim to Chinese trademark pirates in foreign markets ? a twist to the intellectual property problems frequently suffered by foreign companies in China.

In one of the most dramatic cases, two Chinese individuals have applied for trademark registration in Canada for the names and logos of more than 60 Chinese companies. (Financial Times)

Someone did some research to find examples of “Chinese-on-Chinese IP infringement” in foreign jurisdictions, which is certainly interesting to read about. But to somehow suggest that this is a new wrinkle compared to “traditional” infringement of foreign-owned IP in China is really inexcusable.

A further bit from the article:

A European expert in Beijing said such piracy had in the past been mostly confined to foreign companies seeking to enter China.

Come on — I don’t think that “European expert” knows what he/she is talking about, unless the comment was mangled by the reporter.

At the risk of sounding like a condescending, arrogant asshole (imagine that), it’s worth mentioning that infringement of Chinese IP is much more common than infringement of foreign-owned IP in China. Infringers are more familiar with domestic brands than they are with foreign brands, so onshore, and offshore, infringement should not be surprising. This is not a new phenomenon, but has been going on for many years.

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Full post as published by China Hearsay on April 22, 2009 (boomark / email).