一、Service Overview

Stories of Chinese brands having their trademarks pirated, patents copied, and core technologies stolen during overseas expansion are all too common. Once IP is lost overseas, not only are early market promotion investments wasted, but enterprises may also face forced market exit.

The overseas IP team at Pingqian Law Firm has established trademark and patent agent collaboration networks in 60+ countries worldwide, providing Chinese overseas-expanding enterprises with full-chain IP protection solutions from "brand-first" to "infringement-free."

二、Why Is Overseas IP Protection So Important?

◆  Frequent Trademark Squatting

    Overseas distributors, competitors, or professional squatters may register Chinese brand trademarks in target markets first. Once squatted, enterprises face: forced product removal, wasted marketing costs, expensive trademark buybacks, or even forced brand changes.

◆  Patents Are Territorial

   Patents granted in China are only valid within China. To obtain patent protection overseas, applications must be filed in the respective countries/regions. For core technologies (manufacturing processes, formulations), overseas patent portfolio is especially critical.

◆ Proliferation of Counterfeit Products

  Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America are hotspots for counterfeit products. Without pre-registered trademarks in destination markets, counterfeit goods cannot be effectively suppressed through legal channels.

◆  Mandatory E-Commerce Platform Requirements

  Mainstream cross-border e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, eBay, and AliExpress require sellers to own registered trademarks in their sales destination countries for brand registration and anti-counterfeit protection (Brand Registry / Transparency).

三、Service Offerings

◆ Global Trademark Registration

    Via the Madrid System and single-country applications, covering trademark registration in 60+ countries including the US USPTO, EU EUIPO, UK UKIPO, Japan JPO, and Korea KIPO.

◆  International Patent Applications

    Via the PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) pathway for international patent applications entering 150+ contracting states; offering patent linkage services in US FDA, China NMPA and other pharmaceutical/medical device fields.

◆ Copyright & Software Registration

    Software copyright registration with USCO, EU, and others — providing overseas copyright protection for apps, games, and SaaS products.

◆  Trade Secret Protection

    Designing overseas trade secret protection solutions (NDAs, non-competes, technical isolation measures) to prevent core technology/business information leakage.

◆  Infringement Monitoring & Early Warning

  Through global trademark monitoring systems, continuously tracking others' squatting of similar trademarks, promptly issuing oppositions or cancellation requests — nipping problems in the bud.

◆ Infringement Investigation & Enforcement Litigation

   Full-chain rights enforcement services including overseas infringement investigations (purchase evidence, warehouse inventory), customs seizure, and civil litigation (damages + permanent injunctions).

四、 Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is my China-registered trademark automatically protected overseas?

A：  No. Trademark protection is territorial. A trademark registered in China is only valid in China. To obtain protection overseas, you must register in each country/region individually, or file internationally via the Madrid System.

Q2: My products are already sold overseas. Can I register a trademark retroactively?

 A：  Yes, but risks exist — if someone has prior registration or use of the same/similar trademark, your retroactive application may face opposition or rejection. We recommend completing trademark search and registration before entering a new market.

Q3: Which is better, the Madrid System or individual country applications?

   A：The Madrid System suits registration in 3+ countries — one application can designate multiple contracting parties with lower costs. However, the "central attack" (dependence on basic mark) means if the original country mark is cancelled within 5 years, the entire Madrid registration is affected. Individual country applications are more flexible but costlier.

五、Related Services

▪  Cross-Border E-Commerce Legal Compliance → /services/cross-border-ecommerce/

▪ Foreign-Related Legal Consultation → /services/foreign-related/

▪  ODI Overseas Investment Filing → /services/odi-filing/