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| Tom Duke |
Jane Lambert
Tom Duke is our IP attaché to the Peoples' Republic of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. China and Hong are not only large and growing markets for British goods and services they also offer enormous opportunities to British investors. Particularly with the One Belt, One Road project and other initiatives which I discussed in The Shanghai Cooperation Organization 9 Sept 2017 NIPC Brexit.
As is the case everywhere, investments in branding, design, technology and creativity have to be protected in China and Hong Kong from counterfeiting and plagiarism. As a member of the World Trade Organization China has to adhere to the TRIPS agreement which sets minimum standards for the protection of intellectual assets. China has comprehensive and up to date intellectual property laws and courts presided over by specialist judges who are increasingly astute to IP infringement. It is often forgotten that more patent applications are filed from China than any other country in the world.
From time to time Mr Duke tours the UK to discuss IP protection in China with local business leaders. Last year he visited the North of England and Scotland and I chaired his visits to Leeds and Barnsley. Those meetings were very successful and have led to longstanding relationships and successful transactions (see Meet our IP Attaché in China 21 July 2017 IP Yorkshire).
Mr Duke is about to return to the UK and will give a talk at the University of Surrey on 5 Nov 2018. The title of his talk is Succeeding in China: How to Mitigate Intellectual Property Risk. Admission is free but you must register through Eventbrite.
Anyone wishing to discuss this article or IP in China generally should call me on 020 7404 5252 or send me a message through my contact page.
