PROTECT™ - Overview

What is PROTECT™?

PROTECT™ is DLA Piper’s unique service which “stress tests” your brand and gives you peace of mind that it is “fit” for the China market.

The risks of the China market for brand owners

China is increasingly a key market for brand growth. Yet all too often Western brand owners fail to develop and execute an appropriate strategy for establishing and enforcing their trademark rights in China, leaving them open to:

• Attacks from trademark pirates;
• Encroachment from business competitors;
• Supply chain disruption; and
• Challenges with effective enforcement.

These risks can be mitigated by:

• Registering your brand widely and giving consideration to China’s unique sub-class system;
• Devising and registering a Chinese equivalent for your brand; and
• Protecting your brand holistically by making other IP and regulatory filings in addition to filing for trademark protection.

What PROTECT™ can offer you

Our PROTECT™ service involves a thorough analysis of your existing Chinese trademark portfolio and how you use your brand in China.

We will then produce a report which will contain details of the following:

• class and sub-class deficiencies in your existing trademark portfolio: highlighting marks which are registered in China but which do not have sufficiently broad class and sub-class coverage;
• missing registrations: highlighting marks which are being used in China but which are not registered in China; and
• looking forward: highlighting brands which are not being used in China but which you may have plans to use in China and which are not registered.

The PROTECT™ report will then detail a list of actions we would recommend you to take to strengthen your brand protection in China. Using our PROTECT™ service report, you will be able to quickly and easily choose which recommendations you would like to follow.

Our PROTECT™ services gives you complete visibility of the strength of your trademark portfolio in China and peace of mind that your brand will not be vulnerable to attack from brand pirates.

For more information about how our PROTECT™ service can help you, please contact one of the lawyers below or your usual DLA Piper contact.