China Law Blog

Just this second got an email announcing what looks like a very interesting Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Teleconference on Chinese intellectual property, set for tomorrow. For more information and to register, go here.

It will consist of the following two live 90-Minute teleconferences with Interactive Q&A.

Part 1 – Essential Preemptive Steps to Protect IP Rights
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
1:00-2:30 pm Eastern

Part 2 – Strategies for Policing and Enforcing IP Rights
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
1:00-2:30 pm Eastern

It is described as follows:

The increased focus on doing business in China – and its rapidly evolving regulatory landscape for IP – impacts most U.S. companies. In 2006, counterfeit products seized in China accounted for over 80% of all seizures that year.

To protect IP, companies must have an IP strategy for China, whether or not they are currently doing business in China. Before entering the market, advanced planning is crucial because IP rights take time to obtain in China.

How can companies protect their intellectual property rights, whether they are planning to enter the Chinese market, otherwise do business in or with China, or if their products are vulnerable to counterfeiting or other infringement?

Listen and participate from your telephone as our authoritative panel of IP and China business law specialists examines protection of a company's IP rights before entering into business in China and while transacting business in China, including registration of IP, anti-counterfeiting and brand protection strategies, and enforcement practices.

The panel will address the following issues:

What issues must be addressed for registration of IP in China?

What steps can U.S. companies implement to protect their brands against infringement?

What strategies can IP owners employ to combat counterfeiting in China?

What are the best practices for IP enforcement and protection in China?

The faculty consists of the following:

Yitai Hu, of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, in Palo Alto.

Paul D. Jones, of Jones & Co. in Toronto.=

Keith Medansky, of DLA Piper, in Chicago.

Stan Abrams, of DLA Piper, in Beijing, and also of China Hearsay fame.

I can certainly vouch for Stan but I do not know any of the other speakers.