2025 China Trademark Litigation and Enforcement Update | CLE Course

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Course Details

Course Information

smart_display Format
On-Demand
signal_cellular_alt Difficulty Level
Intermediate
work Practice Area
Trademark and Copyright

Date & Time

event Date
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
schedule Time
1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT
timer Program Length
90 minutes

Credit Information

This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.
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Live Online

On Demand

$297.00

This course is $0 with these passes:

CLE

ALL

This CLE webinar will guide IP counsel on the most significant Chinese trademark litigation cases from the past year and examine key changes that are reshaping how brands protect their rights in China.

Faculty

Hui Wen (Amy) Hsiao

Managing Partner

Miscellaneous

Ms. Hsiao is the Managing Partner of Asia Trademark Practice of her firm (Eligon IP) and also the co-chair of Anticounterfeiting Committee at American Bar Association. Her practice focuses on international trademark and cross-border transactions between the US and Asia. Ms. Hsiao has pursued cases through all levels of China’s system and has achieved over 500 successes. She has also managed litigations throughout Asia, including high court and criminal infringement cases in China, Korea, Indonesia and the Philippines. Ms. Hsiao offers a unique blend of Western and Chinese cultures and has worked with policy makers from the U.S., Europe and China on trademark arbitrations and criminal infringement cases. For example, Ms. Hsiao was selected by China’s former Deputy Secretary General of the Trademark Association as the only Western attorney to work on a book involving in-depth analysis of top 26 landmark trademark cases. In 2022, she was selected to join TPAC which advises the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property on matters relating to the policies and goals of the USPTO.

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Description

As the global trade landscape continues to shift amid ongoing U.S.–China tensions and increasing tariffs, safeguarding intellectual property has never been more urgent.

With many companies now rerouting their supply chains across Asia or reassessing their China-based operations, understanding the practical value of a trademark registration—and how it translates into real-world enforcement power—is essential. In today's climate, a registration is more than a piece of paper (the trademark certificate); it is a critical tool for brand protection in cross-border business, ensuring the integrity of supply chain to market entry, especially in regions where enforcement practices and judicial protections can vary widely.

In recent years, several Chinese government offices jointly issued a series of opinions signaling a substantial transformation in China's intellectual property (IP) policy. The new framework aims to encourage innovation and strengthen protections by tackling bad-faith registrations, fostering fair competition, increasing transparency, and aligning more closely with international IP norms.

Listen as our panel analyzes these developments through the lens of enforcement. The panel will explore top trademark infringement cases in the prior year, including precedent-setting damage awards, judicial interpretations, and strategic lessons for brand owners. Special attention will be given to how U.S. companies can adapt to the evolving enforcement landscape in the era of geopolitical uncertainty and protectionism.

Outline

I. Recent changes and emerging trends in enforcement

A. How recent policy changes impact trademark enforcement in China

B. Navigating key enforcement mechanisms:

C. eCommerce takedowns (Alibaba, AliExpress, Taobao, WeChat, Weibo, Dianping), administrative raid actions, customs recordals, criminal and civil enforcement

D. Strategic venue selection: What courts are most favorable to foreign brands—and why?

E. Trends in judicial rulings and the evolving trademark enforcement climate

II. Review of top trademark litigation cases

A. Which case resulted in the highest trademark damages ever awarded to an American brand—and why did the court issue such a significant judgment?

B. Which case led to a five time punitive damages award—and what tipped the scale?

C. Which case successfully combined claims of trademark and design patent infringement—and why was this dual protection strategy effective?

D. Which case pierced the corporate veil in a trademark infringement lawsuit and why it's important?

E. Which case recognized a mark as "well-known" during trademark litigation and what's the strategy to obtain such coveted recognition?

F. Which case involving Kung Fu Panda became a landmark decision—and why does it offer particular insight for brand enforcements in China?

III. Additional Strategic insights

A. What are the key distinctions between Western (U.S.) and Eastern (Chinese/Asian) trademark systems—and how do these differences impact enforcement across Asia?

B. What are the most common enforcement pitfalls foreign brands encounter in China and other Asian jurisdictions?

C. What essential considerations should brand owners keep in mind when seeking to protect trademarks internationally?

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key issues:

Key system differences between trademark laws in China and the U.S. that lead to practical impacts on business operations
Considerations for a brand owner before manufacturing and advertising in Asia
Courts more favorable to foreign brands
Key changes impacting trademark enforcement in China