by Xiong Weisheng

 

BEIJING, Nov 27 (China Economic Net) - Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) companies should strengthen their global intellectual property (IP) strategies as they expand into international markets, industry experts said at a forum on Wednesday during the ongoing second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing.

 

China's NEV industry has experienced rapid growth, with production and sales reaching approximately 9.77 million and 9.75 million units respectively from January to October this year, both increasing by over 33% year-on-year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

 

Speaking at the Intelligent Vehicle Forum, Chen Hongbing, director of the Madrid Registry Operations Division at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), highlighted that intangible assets such as patents, trademarks, designs, trade secrets, and data are increasingly critical in the global economy.

 

"The total valuation of global intangible assets has reached over $70 trillion, surpassing the combined GDP of the world's top five economies," Chen said.

 

He noted instances where overseas entities have attempted to register Chinese car brands in bad faith.

 

From 2012 to May 2023, trademarks of nine leading Chinese NEV firms were allegedly squatted on 152 times across 194 countries and regions, according to a 2023 study by the China Trademark Association, an organisation under China’s top IP regulator.

 

"Strengthening global trademark registration, management, and protection is crucial," Chen said. "Earlier this year, we observed cases of trademark squatting targeting several Chinese car exporters."

 

Chen suggested that companies leverage the Madrid System under WIPO, a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for promoting IP protection worldwide. The system allows for trademark registration in over 130 countries through a single application, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs.

 

He also recommended utilising the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) to streamline patent applications, providing a unified procedure for filing patents in multiple countries. 

 

At the forum, Long Chuanhong, director of the CCPIT Patent and Trademark Law Office, released the "Research Report on Overseas Trademark Registration and Protection of Chinese NEV Companies." The report, jointly published by CCPIT and the China Chamber of International Commerce, aims to help Chinese companies assess and develop overseas trademark protection strategies.

 

"While Chinese NEV companies have generally been effective in strategically registering key trademarks in priority markets and categories, there is room for improvement," Long said. "This includes monitoring for trademark squatting, proactively securing trademarks for emerging products and services, and effectively responding to overseas trademark disputes."