A question almost every one of our clients asks early on is, “what about China intellectual property protection?” It’s an important question. The good news is, it’s getting better for global tech companies.
China in general is respecting IP more than ever, especially as China companies are increasingly developing their own IP; there are new China intellectual property laws providing better protections for intellectual property and global tech companies; the courts are getting better at China intellectual property enforcement; and the pool of attractive China partners is expanding — many publicly listed overseas and or with globally trusted investors and boards.
Still, you need to be smart and need an integrated, comprehensive IP protection strategy that fits your unique situation. So what are some of the strategies for protecting your IP? Here’s some practical ideas:
Register your patents, trademarks, and copyrights in China. If there is ever an issue this could help later. Do it early in your China development process. If you don’t register your patents, trademarks, and copyrights in China, you won’t have any formal IP protection.
We’ve seen companies come into China with software that could be simply copied. Do whatever you can to protect your China intellectual property technically. Provide code that is obfuscated instead of source code. Require a revocable license key for software to run, have it be cloud based/SaaS, Don’t share everything with your partner/JV (i.e. maybe withhold key elements and provide as needed). Compartmentalize critical IP elements and processes and strategically limit access.
From our experience the best strategy to protect your IP in China is selecting and managing the right partners. If foreign tech companies lose IP in China, they typically lose it to unscrupulous (often smaller) companies that they have limited engagement with.
Work with companies that are leaders in the China ecosystem and when possible that are listed outside of China such as in HK or the US or elsewhere. Work with those that are expanding globally — these companies have a lot to lose in reputation and want to avoid litigation and market access issues. Seek out partners that you have good chemistry with the management team and that are invested in by reputable investors (many global investors have great China portfolio companies that can make compelling partners).
Often when we see tech companies that have China intellectual property or partner issues — it’s the companies that met their China partner at trade show or conference or via a delegation where they had limited engagement prior to entering the partnership or where they didn’t reach out to a broad set of potential China partners (i.e. 10, 20, or more) in order to find the partner(s) that fit best.
After finding and engaging the right partners — ensure you stay deeply engaged with them on a local basis — through your own team or a local representative/go to market partner — and that your team stays connected with their teams across levels and departments. Maintain a great relationship with the partners’ management teams and communicate with them often.
The China fly-in-fly-out approach without a local presence or trusted local representative greatly increases your IP risk.
Even when selecting great partners and staying close to them, it’s important to have regular, cooperative audits (don’t wait for problems).
This way you can more easily bring legal action against an IP infringer in China. Contracts should developed specifically for the China market and not just translated/adapted from your home market. We see many companies thinking they can do a simple translation without understanding what’s required in the China market.
Foreign judgments typically won’t be enforced in China so you should consider using China jurisdiction (China courts/China arbitration) for dispute resolution.
Regardless, seek expert legal advice as there can be critical differences related to various industries, sectors, solutions, as well as different China provinces and cities.
A strategy, which can help by maintaining a lasting, mutually beneficial relationship, is to become the customer of your China partner. Develop a deeper alliance where you have your China partner engage in some level of R&D or product development for your global products and solutions. It could be a key feature or subsystem but whatever it is, being the customer of your China partner can reduce their incentive to hurt the relationship while at the same time can help expand your product development capacity and potentially be a cost reduction strategy as well. Cross investments into each other’s parent companies is another way.
Many China tier 1 players have such a strong market position that others in the market don’t want to oppose them. By partnering with a China major, the risk of IP loss can be reduced as the China major will be your IP enforcer in China. If you’ve set up a JV or licensed your technology to a tier 1 player, your partner will work to ensure other less ethical local players don’t steal your IP. They can also work with the China government around standards, certifications, and licenses — which may also help.
And while all the various strategies have their costs and benefits and effectiveness, as they say — “the best defense is a good offense”.
Maintain an aggressive innovation and product development program and ensure the market is aware of your roadmap. China customers want the latest and best product features and functionality — so if your IP is compromised, make any benefit to the thief short-lived.