Tag Archives: Charles Feng

General Office of Communist Party of China and State Council issued Opinion regarding Reform and Innovation for Trial of Intellectual Property Cases

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RegisteredToday’s blog post has been kindly shared with us by our China IPR SME Helpdesk external expert Mr. Charles Feng from East & Concord Partners. In this article, Mr. Feng interprets and explains the recent “Opinion regarding Improvement of Reform and Innovation for Intellectual Property related Trials” jointly issued by the General Office of Chinese Communist Party and the State Council.

On February 6, 2018, General Office of Chinese Communist Party and State Council jointly issued the official document namely “Opinion regarding Improvement of Reform and Innovation for Intellectual Property related Trials” (the “Opinion”). Vice President of Supreme People’s Court (“SPC”), Judge Tao, made interpretation to the IP Opinion during the press conference and was interviewed following the issuance on February 27.

The IP Opinion consisting of four parts includes the General Requirement, Perfection of IP Trial System, Enhancement of IP Court System, and Improvement of Arrangement and Coordination, which were specified as follows.

I General Requirement

The Opinion positioned the IP protection issue as the basic measure for encouragement and guarantee to innovation and creation that builds the foundation to the National Strategy to establish a Nation that is strong in IP as well as science and technology.

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The Opinion was the first strategic document issued by CPC and State Council, the top administrative body of China, which declared the IP protection as the major approach to protect innovation and development.  Continue reading “General Office of Communist Party of China and State Council issued Opinion regarding Reform and Innovation for Trial of Intellectual Property Cases” »

China IPR SME Helpdesk External Expert Charles Feng Interviewed by South China Morning Post regarding Intellectual Property Protection for Foreign-invested Companies in China

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trademarkToday we would like to share with you an interview with China IPR SME Helpdesk external expert Mr. Charles Feng  from East & Concord Partners that was published in South China Morning Post. You will find the link below following the interview summary kindly drafted by East & Concord Partners. 

In August 2017, US President Donald Trump executed an administrative order to initiate an investigation against China in accordance with Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, on the basis that “China has stolen plenty of intellectual properties from American companies as well as forced American companies which plan to enter Chinese market to build unfair joint venture relationship with Chinese companies”. Thereafter, on September 8, 2017, twelve Chinese government authorities related to intellectual property protection, including State Intellectual Property Office (“SIPO”), Ministry of Public Security (“MPS”), State Administration for Industry and Commerce (“SAIC”), Supreme People’s Court (“SPC”) and Supreme People’s Procuratorate (“SPP”), jointly issued the Action Plan on Intellectual Property Protection for Foreign-invested Companies, initiating a four-month nationwide campaign from September 2017 to December 2017 to combat infringements and criminal violations against intellectual property rights of foreign-invested companies. Whether a coincidence or not, the above two news may seem a little opposite, which draws much attention on the intellectual property protection for foreign-invested companies in China.

In preparation for its recent article Lessons from Donald Trump and Michael Jordan on Trademarking in China focusing on current status and strategies of trademark protection in China for foreign-invested companies, South China Morning Post (“SCMP”) interviewed several well-known experts in this field, including Charles Feng, partner of East & Concord Partners, and Liao Fei, partner at international law firm King & Wood Mallesons. Continue reading “China IPR SME Helpdesk External Expert Charles Feng Interviewed by South China Morning Post regarding Intellectual Property Protection for Foreign-invested Companies in China” »

Trade Marks in China: Q&A for the International Comparative Legal Guide to Trade Marks 2017

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For any EU SME operating in China, Trade Marks will be an important IP asset to have. So in order to meet any questions you might have, our China IPR SME Helpdesk expert Mr. Charles Feng from East & Concord Partners based in Beijing has kindly drafted for us a very useful and informative blog post on Trade Mark Protection in China. In this comprehensive Trade Mark guide, our Q&A with Mr. Feng will give you all the answers you need on Trade Mark protection in China. 

1          Relevant Authorities and Legislation

1.1       What is the relevant trade mark authority in your jurisdiction?

The Trademark Office (“TMO”), which is affiliated with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, is the authorised government agency in charge of trademark administration including examinations of trademark applications, oppositions as well as the cancellation of trademark registrations for three years of non-use.  The Trademark Review and Adjudication Board (“TRAB”) oversees the examination of various applications for appeals against the TMO’s decisions, as well as trademark invalidation matters.

In addition, local Administrations for Industry and Commerce (“AICs”) or Market Supervision Administrations (“MSAs”) are in charge of the administrative enforcement of trademark rights.

People’s Courts have jurisdiction over trials for trademark-related administrative or civil litigation.

1.2       What is the relevant trade mark legislation in your jurisdiction?

The most fundamental legislations include the Trademark Law of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC Trademark Law”), the Implementing Regulations of the PRC Trademark Law as well as multiple Judicial Interpretations related to trademark law which are issued by the Supreme People’s Court.

In addition, the Anti-Unfair Competition Law of PRC provides protection to unregistered marks such as distinctive names, packaging or decoration of famous goods.  The criminal code provides protection against counterfeiting activities where the illegal turnover exceeds a certain amount.

Continue reading “Trade Marks in China: Q&A for the International Comparative Legal Guide to Trade Marks 2017” »

Copyright in China: Q&A for the International Comparative Legal Guide on Copyright 2017

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copyright, page 2Have a question about Copyright protection in China? Today’s blog post will provide you an answer. Our China IPR SME Helpdesk expert Mr. Charles Feng from East & Concord Partners based in Beijing has kindly drafted for us a very useful and informative blog post on Copyright Protection in China. In this comprehensive Copyright Guide, presented in Q&A format, you will  be able to find answers about how to register Copyright in China, what rights do you have in China and how you can enforce these rights. 

1          Copyright Subsistence

1.1       What are the requirements for copyright to subsist in a work?

Article 2 of the Implementing Rule of Copyright Law of PRC provides that work shall refer to original intellectual creations in the literary, artistic and scientific domain, insofar as they are capable of being reproduced in a certain tangible form.

Therefore, a work protectable under the Copyright Law of PRC must be:

  • original, which means that the work must be originated by the author rather than copied from any other party; and
  • reproducible, which means that the work must be able to be fixed in a tangible form.

Continue reading “Copyright in China: Q&A for the International Comparative Legal Guide on Copyright 2017” »