USPTO Hosts Texas Seminar on Navigating Intellectual Property Protection in China

Business owners engaged in commerce with China often confront significant risks to their intellectual property (IP), including infringement and unauthorized use. Even companies without direct operations in China may encounter counterfeit products bearing their trademarks either within China or in the United States. To address these concerns, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) organized a free program on June 15 in Texas, aimed at equipping U.S. rights holders with effective strategies to protect and enforce their IP rights both in China and domestically.

The event was a collaborative effort involving the USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs (OPIA), the USPTO Texas Regional Office, the U.S. Commercial Service - Dallas-Fort Worth, and the Dallas Bar Association. It formed part of the USPTO’s ongoing China IP Road Show series conducted nationwide to raise awareness and provide practical guidance on IP issues related to China.

Key topics addressed during the program included essential information for small and medium-sized businesses on protecting various types of IP in China, current developments in China’s IP landscape, and the challenges and opportunities presented by the shifting environment. Additionally, the seminar covered enforcement mechanisms available to combat infringement originating in China, both within China and the United States.

The program featured a distinguished panel of speakers. Hope Shimabuku, Director of the USPTO Texas Regional Office, and David Royce, International Trade Specialist with the U.S. Commercial Service in Dallas-Fort Worth, opened the session. Kirby Drake, Council Member of the Dallas Bar Association IP Section and founder of Kirby Drake Law, also contributed expertise.

A focused segment on "IP Developments in China: Challenges and Opportunities in a Shifting IP Environment" was presented by Michael Mangelson, Principal Counsel and Director for China IP at the USPTO’s OPIA. He was joined by Jason Yao, Partner and Management Committee Member at Wanhuida Intellectual Property in Shenzhen, China, and Christopher Shaowei, Senior Partner at NTD Intellectual Property Attorneys in Beijing.

The discussion further included Kebharu Smith, Director and Associate General Counsel of Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit, who provided insights into combating counterfeit goods linked to China. The presence of these experts offered attendees a comprehensive view of the current IP climate and enforcement strategies.

For more information about this and other events in the China IP Road Show series, interested parties can visit the official China IP Road Show homepage maintained by the USPTO.

This Texas seminar exemplifies the USPTO’s commitment to supporting U.S. businesses in navigating the complexities of international IP protection, particularly in markets as dynamic and challenging as China’s.