Law

There has been a surge in demand in China for products that are sustainable and eco-friendly. But could “greenwashing” be hurting your chances of registering a green trademark in China? Kristina Koehler-Coluccia from Woodburn Global investigates There is no doubt that the trend for sustainable, eco-friendly products both in China and around the world has had a net positive effect, but it has also been responsible for a practice called “greenwashing”, …

On 8 March 2023, the Chinese Ambassador to the Netherlands, Tan Jian, submitted China’s instrument of accession to the Convention of 5 October 1961, Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents Also known as the Apostille Convention, the convention simplifies the procedure for certifying documents between two countries, replacing the need for local certification or notarisation with a certification called an Apostille issued by a “competent authority” in …

Last year was another remarkable year for intellectual property (IP) in China and around the world. Peter Mumford, senior associate with Potter Clarkson LLP, provides a brief overview of some of the top IP developments from 2022 that may be of interest to businesses in China and the UK China Joins WIPO’s Hague System And The Marrakesh Treaty Two of the most significant developments of 2022 were the coming into …

China’s growing middle class and rising consumer awareness about the safety and origins of their food have driven demand for better products. Chinese authorities are also implementing higher standards across everything from beverages and food additives to detergents, contaminants and test methods, writes Kristina Koehler-Coluccia from Woodburn Accountants & Advisors A crisis in food confidence began in China in 2008, when melamine was found in locally produced baby formula, sickening …

Foreign companies and multinationals in China can be vulnerable to internal corruption. Lapses in judgment or inadequate defence procedures may make them liable for crimes committed by employees It is therefore imperative that all companies in China understand the types of behaviours that are illegal under China’s criminal and anti unfair competition laws. This article discusses China’s legislation on commercial corruption and offers advice on preventing acts of fraud, embezzlement …

Foreign companies operating in China often make advertising mistakes that are in violation of the country’s laws without even realising it, writes Kristina Koehler-Coluccia from Woodburn Accountants & Advisors International companies promoting their business in China will design advertising campaigns made for TV, newspapers, websites or social media platforms like WeChat. However, some advertisers may be unaware of the differences between advertising regulations in their home countries, and the regulations …

The NSI Act should not be interpreted as the government seeking to make the UK less attractive to Chinese investors, but a recent case suggests universities may need to re-evaluate how they assess risk under the Act, writes Jason Teng from Potter Clarkson On January 4 2022, the UK government implemented the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act, which allows the government to scrutinise and intervene in certain acquisitions that …

The NSI Act pre-dates the end of the UK-China ‘Golden Era’, and should not be interpreted as the government seeking to make the UK less attractive to Chinese investors, writes Joe Cash The National Security Investment Act has received Royal Assent and been in force since January 2022. Long before the NSI Act became a topic for debate in Parliament, as the NSI Bill, the regime had attracted the attention …

The National Security and Investment Act grants the UK government powers to restrict – and block – investment by potentially harmful foreign actors in 17 crucial sectors. Jason Teng from Potter Clarkson looks at its potential impact on UK and Chinese businesses The UK government has implemented the National Security and Investment Act, which came into force on 4 January 2022.  The Act allows the government to scrutinise and intervene …

The Chinese government is pinning the country’s development on science and technology, ensuring the Party can innovate its way out of any problems the future may hold. British businesses could find themselves at a disadvantage as a new ‘techno-nationalism’ grips China’s industrial markets and results in the adoption of a ‘China first’ principal in government procurement, writes Joe Cash “Mr Science” has made many cameo appearances in the Party’s presentation …