First, read this comprehensive guide to IP protection in China
This guide to IP protection includes many of the key risks you’ll face and some proven strategies to mitigate or avoid them and be able to launch your product without being copied, including legal tools, tips for sourcing the right supplier, and how to compartmentalize your supply chain to avoid IP leakage and infringement.
Blog posts from Sofeast
Please try these various Sofeast resources about product IP risks and protection when manufacturing in China.
- Chinese Copycats: A Real Problem For Entrepreneurs?
- How To Create A Valid Manufacturing Contract In China To Protect Your IP
- How Far Does An NNN Agreement Need To Go To Protect Your IP In China?
- How To Protect Product IP When Working With Contractors & Factories In Different Locations? [6 tips]
- Keeping Sensitive Information Confidential – Disputes With Chinese Suppliers: Q&A (Volume 4)
- Will A China NNN Agreement Protect Us If We Start Assembling Products There?
- IP Protection For Manufacturers. Keep Component Suppliers In The Dark
Blog posts from our CEO Renaud Anjoran’s personal blog, QualityInspection.org
- Why do China factories “steal” intellectual property?
- Brand protection in China: Q&A with an expert
- How much legal protection do importers need?
- When a China factory invokes IP ownership
- Cheap Apple Products from China: Beware of SCAMS
Various solutions Sofeast provide that can help mitigate or prevent product IP risks in China and Asia
Help to find you the right supplier
Our local experts help source the right supplier for your needs based on your product, quality standard, budget, etc: New supplier sourcing/factory identification.
Checking that a potential supplier can be trusted and can reach your expectations
Let’s say that you’ve found a potential supplier who looks great. Can they truly be trusted? Don’t learn they’re a problem the hard way. We can help with the following:
- Supplier background check (Sofeast’s supply chain specialist performs a thorough investigation to uncover the truth about a potential supplier’s business legitimacy and ability to produce your products at your required standards and provides you with a comprehensive report to help you make your decision).
- Supplier legal records check (the fastest way to get an overview of whether a supplier is legitimate – not as comprehensive as the full background check, but perfect for quick peace of mind).
- Certificates & Reports Verification (we check supplier certificates & reports to verify that they have passed your required standards)
Auditing your chosen supplier
Another layer of protection, and one we consider a ‘must’ in most cases, is to send an auditor to check on your supplier’s factory in person. We provide a variety of factory audits in China and Asia-wide. An Initial Factory Evaluation (IFE) is particularly effective at qualifying your supplier and evaluating the risks of working with them before you get started.
Keeping your plastic injection mold tooling safe
We store your tooling safely in our Chinese warehouse. We pick it up or receive it after a production run (noting what condition the tooling is in), store it securely, and then return it back to your supplier before the next one.
This maintains its condition, reduces the risk of IP theft, and allows you to switch suppliers with ease: Tooling custody and management service.