Copyright arises automatically in China (a Berne Convention member) — registration is not required for protection, but is strongly recommended for software as prima facie evidence of ownership. 著作权在中国自动产生（中国系《伯尔尼公约》成员）——登记并非保护前提，但软件强烈建议登记，作为权属的初步证据。 Register key software copyrights with the China Copyright Protection Center (CCPC); … Copyright & trade secrets for foreign firmsRead more
知识产权 / IP & Trademark
China’s 15th Five-Year IP Plan and What It Means for Copyright and Foreign Rights Holders
The State Council has issued the “15th Five-Year Plan” for IP protection and utilisation (Guofa [2026] No. 30), setting the 2026–2030 IP agenda for foreign-rights holders in China.国务院印发《知识产权保护和运用”十五五”规划》（国发〔2026〕30号），为在华外国权利持有人确立2026—2030年知识产权议程。 A headline indicator targets the copyright industry’s value-added reaching 7.53% of GDP … China’s 15th Five-Year IP Plan and What It Means for Copyright and Foreign Rights HoldersRead more
China’s Copyright Collective Management System (2026): What Foreign Rights Holders and Users Should Know
Copyright collective management lets a single licensed society exercise rights that individual rights holders cannot efficiently enforce themselves — performance, broadcasting, rental, information-network transmission and reproduction — and license users, collect royalties, and distribute them on the rights holder’s behalf. … China’s Copyright Collective Management System (2026): What Foreign Rights Holders and Users Should KnowRead more
Trade Secret Protection for Foreign Firms in China: Confidentiality Measures, NDAs and Enforcement under the 2026 Rules
Trade secrets now expressly cover “data” and “algorithms”: the 2026 Rules bring source code, models and customer datasets inside protection. 商业秘密现已明确涵盖”数据”与”算法”：源代码、模型与客户数据集被纳入保护范围。 The 2026 Trade Secret Protection Rules (SAMR Order No. 126, effective 1 June 2026) list eight reasonable confidentiality measures, … Trade Secret Protection for Foreign Firms in China: Confidentiality Measures, NDAs and Enforcement under the 2026 RulesRead more
Software copyright registration in China for foreign firms (2026): the CPCC playbook
Computer software is protected automatically from completion under the Copyright Law, but registration with the China Copyright Protection Center (CPCC) is the evidentiary cornerstone for enforcement and pledge financing. 计算机软件自开发完成依《著作权法》自动受保护，但向中国版权保护中心（CPCC）登记是维权与质押融资的证据基石。 From 15 March 2026 the CPCC upgraded the software copyright … Software copyright registration in China for foreign firms (2026): the CPCC playbookRead more
Foreign Companies’ Copyright Registration in China: CPCC filing, national treatment and the Apostille shortcut
Foreign-owned works enjoy national treatment in China: a work by a foreign or stateless author is protected under the Copyright Law if the author’s home country or habitual residence has an agreement with China or is a party to the … Foreign Companies’ Copyright Registration in China: CPCC filing, national treatment and the Apostille shortcutRead more
Bad-Faith Trademark Squatting in China: how foreign brands prevent and reclaim their marks
China is a first-to-file trademark jurisdiction: whoever registers first generally owns the mark, regardless of who used it first abroad — which is exactly why bad-faith squatting (恶意抢注) hits foreign brands hard. 中国实行商标注册在先原则：一般谁先注册谁拥有商标，与谁在境外先使用无关——这正是恶意抢注对外国品牌打击尤重的原因。 The single most important defensive step is … Bad-Faith Trademark Squatting in China: how foreign brands prevent and reclaim their marksRead more
Trademark registration for foreign brands
China is a first-to-file jurisdiction: trademark rights are generally acquired by registration, not prior use, so file before any public launch, import, or e-commerce listing. 中国实行先申请原则：商标权一般通过注册取得而非通过使用，因此应在任何公开上市、进口或电商上架前提交申请。 Foreign applicants without a business domicile or habitual residence in China must appoint a … Trademark registration for foreign brandsRead more
Registering a Trademark in China for a Foreign Brand: CNIPA National Filing vs the Madrid Route (2026)
A foreign applicant without a business domicile in China must appoint a legally established Chinese trademark agency; only foreign nationals habitually resident in China may file directly.在中国无营业场所的外国申请人须委托依法设立的中国商标代理机构；仅经常居所在中国的外籍人士可自行办理。 China is first-to-file: filing both the Latin mark and a Chinese-character version early … Registering a Trademark in China for a Foreign Brand: CNIPA National Filing vs the Madrid Route (2026)Read more
Madrid Protocol and Trademark Licensing in China: Protecting Foreign Brands
Under the Madrid System, a foreign brand with a Chinese base mark can file one international application designating many members, instead of filing separately in each jurisdiction. 依马德里体系，在中国拥有基础商标的外国品牌可提交一件国际申请指定多个成员，无需在各法域分别申请。 The international application must be based on a China trademark that is … Madrid Protocol and Trademark Licensing in China: Protecting Foreign BrandsRead more