IPR - MOVING THE BALL DOWN FIELD IN ZHEJIANG WITH PATENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 SHANGHAI 000194 SENSITIVE SIPDIS USTR FOR CHINA OFFICE - AWINTER, TWINELAND; IPR OFFICE KALVIREZ; AND OCG - TPOSNER DOC FOR ITA/MAC: SZYMANSKI LOC/ COPYRIGHT OFFICE - STEPP USPTO FOR INT'L AFFAIRS - LBOLAND DOJ FOR CCIPS - TNEWBY FBI FOR LBRYANT DHS/ICE FOR IPR CENTER - DFAULCONER DHS/CBP FOR IPR RIGHTS BRANCH - GMCCRAY NSC FOR JIM LOI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KIPR ETRD EINV EFIN PGOV CH SUBJECT: IPR - MOVING THE BALL DOWN FIELD IN ZHEJIANG WITH PATENT PROGRAM REF: SHANGHAI 59 SHANGHAI 00000194 001.2 OF 004 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Building on the Consulate's successful engagement with Zhejiang intellectual property (IP) officials during a roundtable in January 2009 (reftel),the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and China's State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) co-sponsored a joint seminar on "How to File and Enforce Patents" on April 22. The seminar was organized by the Consulate and the Zhejiang Intellectual Property Administration (ZIPA). Close to 160 representatives from both Chinese and U.S. enterprises, law firms and Chinese government offices attended the program in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province. About 80 percent of the attendees represented Chinese enterprises and law firms; all of those we spoke with particularly welcomed the opportunity to learn more about the U.S. intellectual property (IP) system, citing increased demand to file Chinese patents in the United States. Continued such engagement with Zhejiang, China's fourth largest provincial economy, is invaluable for U.S. commercial interests to ensure the province continues down the path of increased IP protection. End Summary. Maintaining Momentum -------------- ¶2. (U) After the United States filed several IP-related WTO dispute settlement cases against China in April 2007, Zhejiang effectively closed off all collaboration with the U.S. Government on IP issues for close to two years. Cooperation with U.S. business organizations, however, continued sporadically. After the Consulate's continuous efforts to revive relations, Zhejiang finally agreed to hold a roundtable in January 2009 between Consulate officials and Zhejiang provincial IP-related administrative, enforcement and judicial agencies. During the roundtable, officials welcomed further cooperation, expressing a particular interest in ways to help Zhejiang companies better understand the U.S. IP system. Following the meeting, USPTO and SIPO agreed to co-sponsor a program in the province designed to provide practical information on filing and protecting patents in both China and the United States. After getting the green light, the Consulate and ZIPA worked closely with USPTO and SIPO to develop a comprehensive program. Program attendees and speakers hailed not only from Zhejiang (majority of attendees) but also included a scattering of law and company representatives from Jiangsu and Anhui Provinces, Shanghai, Beijing, and the United States. Collaboration from Both Sides -------------- ¶3. (U) The Consul General kicked off the April 22 program with remarks about the role of patents in the United States, noting Zhejiang's efforts on patent filing and protection, and encouraging further collaboration on IP issues. (Note: Econoff, Entry Level Officer from Consular Section, and USPTO IPR Specialist also participated throughout the program.) Wang Xiaowei, Deputy Director General of the International Cooperation Department of SIPO said that a great deal of Chinese innovation in science and technology is originating from Zhejiang and noted the importance of broadening the strategic thinking of Zhejiang-based companies on IP issues. Following his remarks, ZIPA Director General Chen Zhijun said that with the global economic downturn, local businesses are working to develop new markets and new strategies to turn the crisis into an opportunity, and IP is a integral part of their strategy. He also emphasized that the U.S. IP system is still largely unfamiliar to Zhejiang companies, and they want to build their knowledge on how to file and enforce patents in the United States. Zhang Meizhen from SIPO's Patent Reexamination Board SHANGHAI 00000194 002.2 OF 004 outlined and clarified procedural details on the processes for patent applications, invalidations and reexaminations. Jasmine Chambers, Director of the Technology 2900 Center at USPTO, contrasted the U.S. application and reexamination system to that in China. ¶4. (U) During the second panel, representatives from three U.S. law firms, which have extensive experience in China, discussed corporate filing strategies and provided tips and practical information on how to file patent application at USPTO and SIPO. Jones Day Partner Tony Chen pointed out ways in which Chinese companies can use patents to achieve their business goals in the United States, which might not be available in China. Shook Hardy Partner Tom Moga noted the tremendous increase in Chinese understanding of patent issues since his original visit to China in 1997 when he taught patent law to Chinese students. He also addressed Patent Law revisions that will take effect October 1, 2009, saying one of the key areas for concern is the new requirement (Article 27) for a brief description of the design application. He expressed concern that the brief description may prove limiting and disadvantageous in the event of patent litigation. Wilson, Sonisni, Goodrich and Rosati Partner Zhou Wei spoke of his previous experience as a corporate IP counsel, advised companies to use patents to generate economic value and not just protect technology and innovation. He also offered patent portfolio strategies that Chinese companies may consider when going abroad. ¶5. (U) The second half of the program focused on protection and enforcement of patents in both countries. Finnegan Henderson Farabow, Garrett and Dunner Managing Partner Esther Lim discussed the process for handling patent infringement cases in the United States. She encouraged Chinese companies to use U.S. ITC litigation as a tool for patent protection. ZIPA Officer Lv Wenge provided details on how to enforce patents using China's administrative and civil system. He noted that Zhejiang now has six intermediate courts, and in 2008 there were a total of 1,634 IP civil cases in Zhejiang, 215 of which involved foreign rights holders. Approximately 99 percent of the cases involving foreigners were decided in favor of the foreign party. However, he cautioned that there is still significant risk for foreigners in litigating patent cases in the province, citing the April 15 Chint/Schneider case resolution in which the two parties settled for USD 23 million. (Chint, a Zhejiang electronics company, won the first instance trial against the French company Schneider for USD 45 million in damages.) ¶6. (U) In a separate panel covering practical tips on patent enforcement, Schwabe, Williamson, and Wyatt Partner Skip Fisher discussed how to initiate a Section 337 action in the United States, and urged Chinese companies to take warning letters seriously to avoid charges of "willful infringement. " Founding Partner An Xiaodi from Tian Zhang and Partners, a Beijing-based IP firm, believed that contrary to popular opinion, Chinese IP court cases are determined more by the weight of evidence rather than "guanxi" or relationships. However, he noted the difficulties of establishing IP cases outside of Beijing and Shanghai, as well as challenges litigants face in requesting courts to collect and preserve evidence. Judges have little power and are often hesitant to compel others to produce evidence. He however noted that in the Chint/Schneider case the judge actively collected evidence on behalf of Chint. An also emphasized that courts generally do not put much weight on testimony because of widespread lack of witness veracity. (Comment: Several attendees noted the boldness of such a statement by a Chinese lawyer in the presence of Chinese government officials and foreigners.) Jones Day Partner Benjamin Bai noted Chinese companies generally fear litigation in the United States because of the huge costs associated with going to trial. He encouraged Chinese companies not to avoid litigation in the United States as a means to protecting their IPR, pointing out that 86 percent of U.S. patent disputes SHANGHAI 00000194 003.2 OF 004 eventually get settled out of court and only 3 percent of adjudicated cases actually go to trial. Each of the panels concluded with lively question and answer sessions with companies raising individual concerns about courts accepting their cases and confidentiality. Reaction from Participants and Attendees -------------- ¶7. (SBU) ZIPA Deputy Director Wu Jian said that the conference "enhanced the possibility of success for Zhejiang companies pursing litigation in the United States. " Hangzhou Motorola Cellular Equipment Legal Manager Robert Yao praised the conference as "the highest quality IP seminar he had ever attended" because of its comprehensive scope and practical tips offered by the speakers. Hangzhou-based partner and patent agent Wang Bin from Tian Zheng Patent and Trademark Attorneys praised the "nuts and bolts" program on patent filing as very practical and useful and hoped for more such seminars in the future. He added that he attended so that he could better serve the needs of an increasing number of clients who are seeking to file patents in the United States. Zhejiang companies are "waking up" to the need to file abroad, particularly as they look for new markets outside China's borders. ¶8. (SBU) Patent Consultant Liu Zonghao from the Hangzhou Jizhong Intellectual Property Agency said the speeches gave him ideas about how to solve some problems that his clients are currently facing. He added that such an event is also a good forum for Chinese firms to exchange ideas and voice concerns to their own government officials in attendance. He would gladly attend more such programs if given the chance. Finance Director Chen Laiqian from Interplex China, a Hangzhou electronics company, said the program was very useful in helping him to understand how to manage an IP system inside his company. Vice Director of the Hangzhou Feng He Patent Attorneys Office Wang Xiaofeng said hearing practical tips on patent registration and enforcement from U.S. lawyers on their own system was especially beneficial. Continued IP Engagement Crucial for U.S. Interests -------------- -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Comment: Continued engagement on IP issues with Zhejiang Province is critical for U.S. commercial interests in China. Zhejiang is China's fourth largest provincial economy (USD 314 billion GDP in 2008) and a key market for U.S. companies. There are over 4,700 U.S.-invested projects in Zhejiang, and the United States remains among Zhejiang's top investors. Prominent U.S. businesses in Zhejiang include General Motors, Merck, Motorola, and General Mills. However, the province has historically been a center for trade in counterfeit goods. It is also home to China's largest "small commodities" wholesale market and distribution center in Yiwu. Although the province, including Yiwu, has made significant progress in beefing up IP protection, the Quality Brands Protection Committee, an industry group that represents a wide-range of rights holders (including American firms),still ranks the province as one of the top two areas for concern on IP protection in China. ¶10. (SBU) Since Zhejiang's economy is heavily export-oriented and many Zhejiang enterprises have expressed interest in investing in the United States, holding such capacity-building SHANGHAI 00000194 004.2 OF 004 programs is an ideal way to strengthen our relationship with the province on IPR. These events not only provide U.S. rights holders practical information on how to protect their IP in China and direct access to Zhejiang IP officials, but also help build a constituency of Chinese companies that can urge better IP protection in China. The innovative spirit of Zhejiang's many small and medium size private enterprises, which account for 70 percent of the province's economic volume, 50 percent of GDP and 90 percent of total employment, is already alive and well - Zhejiang ranks third among provinces in China for the number of patents filed and granted. Now, as Zhejiang companies become more skilled at protecting their IP at home and abroad, they will undoubtedly become stronger allies in the fight to strengthen overall IP protection in the province. ¶11. (U) USPTO has cleared this report. The Consulate General reiterates its thanks to USPTO for its support and expert participation in this event. CAMP