On November 6, the 2024 Shanghai Intellectual Property Law Forum, hosted by Chang Tsi & Partners and organized by its Shanghai office, was successfully held in Shanghai. The forum was guided by the Shanghai Pudong New Area Bureau of Justice and the Intellectual Property and Competition Law Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, with support from the US-China Intellectual Property Exchange & Development Foundation. This event focused on current cutting-edge and trending topics in the field of intellectual property, blending theoretical insights with practical discussions. Topics covered included amendments to the Anti-Unfair Competition Law and Trademark Law, the value of patents in the age of artificial intelligence, online trademark protection, the non-use cancellation process, and obtaining high compensations, providing comprehensive guidance and pragmatic strategic support for enterprises in protecting and leveraging their intellectual property. This forum was particularly significant as it marked the first time in over 20 years since Chang Tsi's founding that a legal forum was hosted in China.

Dr. Leslie Xu, Head of the Shanghai office, chaired the event and expressed his honor in hosting it. He highlighted the strategic regional role of the Shanghai office and the advantages of resource-sharing within Chang Tsi’s corporate management structure.

In the opening address, Ron Tsi, Chang Tsi’s Marketing Director, extended warm greetings on behalf of Director Simon Tsi, Managing Partner Spring Chang, and all members of the management committee to the attendees. He noted that emerging technologies like the digital economy and artificial intelligence have driven innovation in legal services, legislation, and new IP challenges. Chang Tsi has remained at the forefront by adapting legal strategies and innovating business models to safeguard clients' IP rights and maximize their interests. He emphasized Shanghai's importance as a key market for the firm and expressed the desire to deepen ties with participating companies to tackle future challenges and seize opportunities.

The first session of the forum, themed Innovation and Challenges in Intellectual Property Law in the New Era, featured an online keynote by Professor Xiangjun Kong, Director of the Intellectual Property and Competition Law Institute at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and former judge of the Supreme People's Court. His presentation, Amendments to the Anti-Unfair Competition Law and Regulation of Competitive Behavior in the Digital Economy, focused on data rights protection and regulations against unfair competition involving digital technologies. He discussed the topic from the perspectives of IP protection for commercial data, categorization of data infringement, drafting of specific data protection articles, and prohibition of improper digital technology use, integrating both theoretical and practical insights.

Philip Qin, COO and Partner at Chang Tsi, gave a keynote titled Exploring the Value of Patents in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. He traced the origins of AI and analyzed how IP fosters innovation at different R&D stages. Qin elaborated on how AI influences patent application, strategy, use, and protection, addressing its impact on IP strategy, AI hardware protection, and patent system development, alongside showcasing Chang Tsi’s successful case studies as an external provider.

Professor Lianfeng Wang, a renowned scholar focusing on trademark law, from East China University of Political Science and Law delivered a speech on Amendments to the Trademark Law and the Improvement of Related Rules in the New Era. She reviewed the context and highlights of the recent amendments, explaining their effects on trademark application, use, recognition, and protection, as well as discussing key issues like malicious registrations, mandatory transfer systems, coexistence agreements, protection and administrative recognition of well-known trademarks, and anti-malicious litigation mechanisms.

Partner Tracy Shen presented a keynote on Online Trademark Protection: Challenges, Trends, and Strategies. Drawing from practical experience, Shen summarized the status and trends of online trademark protection, explaining the challenges compared to traditional approaches. She provided practical solutions based on her team’s success stories, covering monitoring mechanisms, enforcement measures, team strategy, and the combination of litigation and non-litigation tactics.

The second session, titled Trademark Prosecution and Enforcement from a Comprehensive Strategic Perspective, featured two panel discussions. The first, moderated by Ming Zhu, Head of Trademark Practice in China, focused on Defending Against Non-Use Cancellations: The Art of Evidence Preparation and Use. Panelists Emma Ma, Nana Zhang, and Eva Hu discussed non-use cancellation regulations, offering insights on handling cases from different angles. They addressed issues like trademark use on promotional items, symbolic use, and compliance through case examples.

The second panel, moderated by Partner Michael Fu, focused on Securing High Compensation: Dual Perspectives of Civil and Criminal Trademark Infringement. Nancy Qu, David Lee, and Ason Zhang shared their experiences on punitive damages, handling criminal cases, and coordinating civil-criminal proceedings, highlighting key factors for achieving high compensation.

The forum gathered numerous guests and industry elites from Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta, fostering a lively atmosphere with active discussions. Attendees praised the forum’s practical guidance and strategic insights. The success of this event underscored Chang Tsi’s commitment to delivering top-quality legal services and offering an essential platform for dialogue and joint development in the industry. Moving forward, Chang Tsi will continue to provide exceptional legal services, monitor industry trends, and help businesses protect and maximize their IP in an ever-changing market environment.