December 2025
A Tactical Guide to Fighting Against Copycats on Chinese E-commerce
Last week just before the Christmas holidays a Norwegian SME client has discovered counterfeit replicas of their products being sold on Chinese websites. Given that the client is seeking a prompt, effective, and cost-efficient solution rather than incurring high legal fees, how can we best address and resolve this e-commerce infringement issue? I. Protective Stronghold […]
Enforcing Foreign Judgments in China: A Practical Guide for International Brand Owners
I recently handled a query from the legal department of a UK-based company, a situation that highlights a frequent procedural difficulty in the enforcement of international judgments. The UK company had successfully sued a Chinese company’s UK subsidiary and its Chinese parent entity in a UK court and obtained a favorable judgment. The current challenge […]
Deconstructing the Boundaries of Trademark Exhaustion in the Era of Up-cycled Luxury
In the luxury industry, the global growth of the circular economy and sustainable fashion presents a challenging dilemma. On one side, it supports corporate social responsibility objectives and appeals to a new generation of eco-conscious consumers. On the other side, it raises complex issues of potential intellectual property violations, where the boundary between legitimate reuse […]
Navigating the New Paradigm of Trademark Management in China
In recent years, Chinese trademark law has undergone a notable shift, with greater focus placed on the genuine use of trademarks. As a result, there has been a marked increase in cases where defensively registered trademarks have been cancelled due to lack of authentic commercial use. Registering and maintaining a trademark requires considerable time and […]
A Guide to Registering Trademarks with Foreign Country Names in China (Judgement Attached)
When assisting international companies entering the Chinese market, one of the most common and challenging issues we face involves registering trademarks that include or reference foreign country names. At first glance, the legal framework seems contradictory. Public campaigns and general knowledge of intellectual property law have taught many that a trademark identical or similar to […]
Tactical Trademark Guardianship: Safeguarding Your Brands from Che San Challenges in China
Following the discussion on essential trademark compliance—such as strict adherence to registered mark formats, statutory deadlines, and approved classification limits—this advisory focuses on the complex issue of maintaining defensive trademark registrations against Article 49 cancellations (Che San) under China Trademark Law. Although these registrations are not actively used in commerce, they play a vital strategic […]
Navigating Celebrity Portrait Rights in China
A recent inquiry from a client at a leading film production company highlighted a critical issue: How can the unique persona of a star character be protected within the film itself? This question moves beyond the simple use of a heads hot, touching upon the very essence of how a celebrity commercial value is created […]