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IPR: Free intellectual property information and support for EU Small and Medium Enterprises
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The China IPR SME Helpdesk
Free intellectual property information and support for EU Small and Medium Enterprises

BT 201809 IPR 01知识产权保护对于保持竞争优势、优化创新价值意义重大。然而中国和欧盟的知识产权体系有所不同。完备的知识产权战略和必要的未雨绸缪不仅能够减少知识产权相关问题的产生,而且可以带来收益的增长,当知识产权受到侵犯时,也会让企业从容不迫,快速高效应对。基于竞争与创新框架项目(CIP),中小企业知识产权中国咨询服务台由欧盟委员会企业和工业总局联合创立,为欧盟中小企业提供免费的知识产权信息及支持,包括建议、培训、资料以及网上资源,旨在保护和执行欧盟中小企业在华或与中国相关的知识产权。

The principle issues surrounding Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) development, protection and enforcement are essential to all aspects of your business. Your IPR strategy should be considered as being one of the main pillars of your business, not unlike your business strategy or HR strategy. A strong IPR strategy and proactive preparation not only helps to prevent IPR-related issues, but may also result in increased revenue as well as more effective and quick enforcement in the case of an infringement.
 

What is IPR?
Intellectual Property Rights are legally enforceable rights over the use of inventions or other creative works. They confer the right to exclude others from their use. Securing your IPR will help you to prevent and enforce against infringers profiting from your innovation or brand by passing it off as their own. IP falls into the categories of being registrable and non-registrable IP rights.
 

Registrable IP rights are territorial, which means they have to be claimed and asserted in each country individually. Registered IP in another country is not automatically registered in China; therefore, it is strongly recommended that you register your IP assets in the country before entering the market.
 

The best way to prevent IPR-related issues is to use a layered, holistic IPR protection strategy, which includes protection both by registration of your registrable rights and other methods such as contractual protection (confidentiality agreements, IP protection clauses in employee agreements) and internal security measures (limited access to certain work areas, etc.).
 

The main types of IP rights are:

1. Copyrights
Copyright protection is generally provided for written, oral, musical, dramatic, choreographic, artistic, architectural, photographic, cinematographic, audio-visual, graphic works and computer software. While you do not need to register your copyright for protection, you may voluntarily register to prove ownership in China; this can be useful as evidence for enforcing your rights.

BT 201809 IPR 022. Trade marks
A trade mark is a sign or name that serves the specific and primary purpose of identifying goods or services of a producer, thus allowing the consumers to distinguish goods or services of one producer from those of another. You can register either by filing an application directly at the China Trade mark Office (domestic application) or by filing an application at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (international application). If you are making an international application, your trade mark may have to be registered in your home country before requesting the extension of the trade mark to China.

BT 201809 IPR 033. Patents
A patent is a set of exclusive rights granted to the inventor of a technical solution of a product for a limited amount of time. In China, invention patents are granted for innovations in the field of technology that are new and inventive over other existing products present in the market. China also provides for utility model patents (similar to Utility Patent systems in many European countries) which are generally granted more quickly and require a lesser degree of inventiveness; usefully, invention patent and utility model patents can be applied for simultaneously allowing an invention to benefit from protection afforded by utility models before the invention patent is granted. The original shape, pattern, colour, or a combination of these in an object, can also be protected by design patents.

BT 201809 IPR 044. Trade Secrets
Nearly all businesses in all industries and sectors possess trade secrets – a non-registrable form of intellectual property that can ensure your business advantage over competitors. Precisely because a business does not wish to publicly disclose their trade secrets by registering them as copyright, trade mark or patent, means a sound internal strategy to prevent them from being accidentally leaked or stolen is essential. If publicly divulged, trade secrets enjoy no legal protection, but providing this does not happen they can in theory remain secret (and hence, protected) for an infinite term. The recipe for Coca-Cola is perhaps the classic example of a well-kept trade secret; had the company patented the formula, it would have become public knowledge as soon as the patent had expired. Trade secrets are recognised by the Chinese IPR system, but to enforce them in courts, companies need to demonstrate that they were i) non-public; ii) have potential commercial value, and; iii) are guarded by confidentiality measures.
 

The China IPR SME Helpdesk project is co-funded by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry under the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP). The Helpdesk provides support for European Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) to both protect and enforce their IPR in or relating to China. It offers free information and services in form of jargon-free, first-line, confidential advice on intellectual property and related business issues, plus training, materials and online resources.

BT 201809 IPR 05The Helpdesk's free services for European businesses include:

Helpdesk Enquiry Service – Confidential Advice
Individual SMEs and SME intermediaries can submit IP enquiries directly to the Helpdesk via phone, email or in person, getting access to a panel of experts to receive free and confidential first-line advice.
 

Training
The Helpdesk arranges training on China IP protection and enforcement across Europe and China, tailored to the needs of businesses, including:

• General IP issues, including IP registration and establishing an IP protection strategy;

• Practical business challenges such as choosing a China business partner, attending a trade fair and licensing;
• Helpdesk IP Clinics offering businesses free 20 minute one-on-one consultations with an IP expert are available at most training events;

• Train-the-trainer resources for SME service providers and intermediary bodies (Trade Associations, SME Networks etc.) to improve the awareness of intermediary representatives about the scope and tools offered by the Helpdesk for the benefit of their SME members and clients;
 

Materials
Industry and business-focused guides and training materials address China country IPR issues by:

• IP topic, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, licensing, dealing with counterfeiting;

• Business focus, including IP as a business asset, technology transfer, finding the right lawyer;

• Specific sector, including textiles, medical devices, ceramics and clean technology;
 

Online Services – Website:
www.china-iprhelpdesk.eu
The multi-lingual online portal provides easy access for all EU SMEs to Helpdesk information and services, including Helpdesk guides, E-learning modules, videos, event information and live webinars.
 

Take-away message
Protecting intellectual property rights is central to maintaining your business’s competitive edge and leveraging value from your innovations. IPR systems differ between Europe and China, and it is essential to plan your internationalisation to the region no matter what level of engagement you foresee. The China IPR SME Helpdesk is close at hand to provide free, practical advice to your business no matter which stage of operations you are at, and always remember, ‘Know Before You Go’.

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