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IP Protection for Manufacturing & Sourcing in China

We help overseas businesses protect sensitive product information before it enters the China supply chain.

China-Based Team
Dedicated English Contact
Clear Service Scope
Request a Supplier IP Risk Review

Know What Needs Protection Before You Share

Clear planning helps protect your ideas and makes supplier relationships easier to manage.

  • What Are You Sharing?

    Drawings, CAD files, samples, specifications, tooling plans, brand assets or other project information.

  • Who Has Access?

    Identify which suppliers or related parties can access sensitive product information, reducing unnecessary disclosure.

  • Is Ownership Clear?

    Clarify ownership of drawings, samples and project improvements so responsibilities stay clear as production moves forward.

  • What Is Allowed?

    Define permitted use early to reduce surprises from extra production, sales or third-party sharing.

Turn your ideas into lasting value in China

Not sure where to start?
Request a Supplier IP Review

Protect Your IP Across the Supply Chain in China

Address key protection needs at each stage of your supplier project.

BEFORE DISCLOSURE

Before First Disclosure

Confirm who you are dealing with before sensitive product information leaves your control.

DEVELOPMENT

During Sampling & Development

Clarify ownership when supplier input creates new project materials or changes your product.

CONTRACTING

Before Contracts & Payments

Confirm the contracting party and key IP terms before making commercial commitments.

Some protection steps may run in parallel, so plan ahead and coordinate them early.

Start a Supplier IP Review

Make Sure Your Protection Fits the Supplier Relationship

Check whether your protection still fits the parties involved and how the project works.

  1. Supplier & Counterparty Review

    Confirm which entities are involved and who should take contractual responsibility.

    Verify the Right Parties
  2. Existing Rights & Filing Gaps

    Check whether your existing China rights cover what you plan to share with suppliers.

    Assess Your IP Coverage
  3. NNN & Supplier Contract Terms

    Make sure the agreement reflects how the supplier will access and use your information.

    Review Contract Terms
  4. Drawing & Tooling Ownership

    Clarify who owns and controls key project assets throughout the supplier relationship.

    Protect Your Key Assets

Your Local Team in China

Work directly with a local team that understands your priorities and keeps communication clear.

Zhang Mingqi

Patent Agent
Mechanical · Mechatronics · Software

Patent drafting, search, and Office Action responses. Working in IP since 2003.

Wang Xiandong

Patent Agent
Communications · Mechanical · Biotechnology

Patent drafting, portfolio planning, risk analysis, and domestic and international patent matters.

Gei Minghui

Patent Agent
Chemistry · Mechanical · Mechatronics

Patent drafting, search, and prosecution across chemical and engineering technologies.

Ma Miaoqing

Trademark Attorney Trademark Registration · IP Portfolio Management

Qualified attorney specializing in trademark matters, including trademark filing, examination response, portfolio management, and brand protection strategies for international clients.

Chen Sisi

Trademark Specialist Trademark Search · Filing · Renewal

Experienced in supporting trademark applications and maintenance, coordinating filing procedures and assisting international clients with China trademark protection.

Cao Shuya

IP Paralegal & Client Coordinator International Client Support · Case Management

Supporting IP filing procedures, document coordination, and communication between international clients and professional teams throughout the IP protection process.
View all

Get a Clear View of Your Supplier IP Risks

Share the project basics, and we’ll help you see where further review may be needed.

Request a Supplier IP Risk Review

Questions About Protecting IP With Chinese Suppliers

Clear answers about agreements, supplier relationships, and practical next steps for your project.

Start by confirming who will receive the information and whether your existing China rights cover what you plan to share. If there is a gap, we can then look at the protection that should be in place before disclosure.

Possibly. A contract controls obligations between the parties, while registered IP can provide an independent basis for protection in China. We review how your China OEM agreement works with your existing rights before recommending anything further.

An NDA mainly focuses on keeping shared information confidential. An NNN agreement typically also addresses non-use and non-circumvention, helping define how a supplier may use your information and interact with your business. The appropriate terms depend on the project, the information being shared, and the parties involved.

Not always. The right document depends on how the supplier will use your information and what you need to restrict. We review the relationship first, then recommend whether a China NNN agreement is appropriate.

Not automatically. If more than one entity receives project information, the signing structure should reflect the real information flow. We first confirm who should take responsibility under the agreement.

Sharing does not automatically mean there are no options left. We need to understand how the disclosure happened and what protection is already in place before advising what can still be strengthened.

Review the handover terms before tooling or project materials move. If tooling ownership in China is unclear, it is better to address that before the transfer begins.