China Intellectual Property Toolkit provides Americans with important information on protection and enforcement
Author: Kathy Vidal
Since I began serving as Director of the USPTO in the spring of 2022, protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights in China has been an important part of our agency’s efforts to strengthen the global intellectual property system.
U.S. companies operating in China often regard insufficient intellectual property protection and enforcement as top issues. For more than a decade, the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office has included China on its “Priority Watch” list, detailing a list of U.S. Trade Representative’s reports. A long list of intellectual property issues. American businesses operating in China.
I am committed to leveling the playing field for U.S. rights holders in China and providing insights into the unique challenges they face.
We are fortunate to have a USPTO team of attorneys and IP experts focused on China. The China team includes more than a dozen U.S.-based IP attorneys and three IP specialists and legal staff located in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, China. These experts work with other federal agencies, U.S. stakeholders, and Chinese government counterparts to advocate for U.S. rights holders doing business in and exporting to China.
We offer a range of valuable tools for doing business in China, including the recently updated China Intellectual Property Toolkit. Designed specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises, the revised toolkit provides an in-depth look at China’s IP environment, including avenues for protection and enforcement.
Doing business in China can be difficult. The China IP Toolkit can serve as a useful first stop on this journey. It can be downloaded for free from the USPTO website.
I have witnessed firsthand the commitment of American businesses to educate themselves on Chinese intellectual property. In October, I participated in the USPTO China IP Roadshow in San Diego with private sector and government experts.
These one-day, in-person events held across the country provide local entrepreneurs and businesses with detailed information on how to protect and enforce intellectual property rights in China. They are tailored to local context and take into account leading local industries – biotechnology, manufacturing, agriculture or the creative industries, among others.
We employ experts who can solve the challenges these businesses face. We also provide the expertise and knowledge of USPTO China IP experts, local business people, and IP experts.
Since 2017, we have held more than 30 China IP roadshow events across the country.
In our work, I am grateful for the leadership of U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. Last year, she traveled to Beijing and Shanghai to meet with Chinese government officials and representatives of leading U.S. companies operating in China.
The China IP Toolkit and China IP Roadshow are just two of the initiatives led by our China team.I encourage you to come and visit uspto.gov/ip-policy/china Check out the resources we have available and sign up for future roadshows and webinars.
Kathi Vidal is Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).