What were the words on everyone’s lips when attending the business matchmaking event of the European Commission’s ‘Mission for Green Growth’ event on 19 July …Well all we were listening for was IP, IP, and IP.
You see whilst European SMEs were batting their eyelids and getting coquettish with new business contacts in the Chinese market, the IPR Helpdesk was ready on hand to offer expert first line advice to these SMEs on how they can prepare and protect themselves before delving head-first into their new ‘relationships’.
Many IP questions and concerns were raised and answered throughout the day and interviews taken which offer future advice to those who haven’t ventured out onto China-shores just yet.
One of the most resonant pieces of advice to be taken from this event comes from a European civil engineering enterprise which is currently, after remedying the IP problems they encountered on first attempt, successfully preparing to re-enter the Mainland China market.
The SME in question fully admit that on first stab they “tried to work in China without being very prepared” which led to a Chinese Shenzhen-based company basically stealing their business identity, pretending to be them, using their work, selling their work and reaping all the benefits of the above, including the €kerching€. Yet the SME, confident in the mantra that age and experience beget wisdom and success, state that now they are “older” they are better placed to re-enter the market…that and the fact they have their IP sorted this time around.
Learning from the mistakes of the past, the company has been extremely pro-active this time around in consulting with experts, registering their IP assets prior to re-entry and by considering Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise (WFOE) status as a way to help combat the infringement risks of Joint Ventures (JV). The company is now more than clued up on such things as using contracts efficiently to protect their software and know-how and we can learn from their example that shortcuts in these areas, really never end up being shortcuts.
So if you’re a business waiting on the Chinese border with engine revving ready for the 3, 2, 1…remember, the best way to stay away from infringement and keep for yourself your own hard-earned brass, is by taking the time to prepare yourself, listening to those who have boldly gone before and by of course checking our website! Know before you go!
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