SME China IPR Advisory Program |
The U.S. Department of Commerce, in cooperation with the American Bar Association, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the American Chamber of Commerce in China, have established a new China Intellectual Property Rights Advisory Program. Through this program, American small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can request a free, one-hour consultation with a volunteer attorney experienced in both IPR issues and the Chinese market to learn how to protect and enforce intellectual property rights (IPR), such as trademarks, patents or copyrights, in China.The SME China IPR Advisory Program seeks to:
- Help American businesses understand the steps they must take to develop an intellectual property protection strategy for the Chinese market;
- Help U.S. companies facing China-related IPR disputes pursue resolution to their problems; and
- Reinforce the message that it is essential for U.S. companies to take action to protect and enforce their IPR in accordance with China’s civil, administrative and criminal laws, and that failing to act can have devastating consequences for future business.
To request a free consultation with a volunteer attorney or obtain additional information regarding this program, please visit the American Bar Association website at http://www.abanet.org/intlaw/intlproj/iprprogram.html.