Intellectual property is among the core business of CTW and we have more than forty professionals in this field.  CTW is distinguished for its high quality services, efficient work style, and extensive experiences in foreign-related trademark services. In terms of the number of annual trademark applications and clients, CTW leads the list among peer firms. In 2006, CTW was recognized as one of the top 10 outstanding IP law firms in China at the Asia Law IP Awards; in the same year, Spring Chang, one of the partners of CTW, was honored as the "Most Outstanding International Trademark Lawyer"  by the magazine Who's Who Legal, the official cooperator of the International Lawyer Association. Only three lawyers in China received this honor. In 2007 Spring Chang was awarded this honor again along with three other distinguished IP lawyers in China.

The IP legal service offered by CTW covers various areas, including trademark, patent, copyright (software), proprietary technology, trade secret, product packaging, protection of new plant varieties, integrated circuit design, maintenance and assignment of IP, as well as IP-related unfair competition, customer rights, product liability, and advertising.

As a law firm with trademark and patent agent qualifications, CTW can provide clients with one-stop comprehensive IP legal services. CTW not only applies and maintains domestic and overseas rights for clients in trademark, patent, and copyright (software), but also provides various legal services including IP assignment and approval, customs recordal, investigation and evidence collection for infringement, and prosecution of infringement such as administration punishment, civil and criminal self-defending litigation, which can supply comprehensive protection for the IP rights of clients.

The IP attorneys of CTW have accumulated extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of the laws and practices of IP protection in China. They are not only familiar with laws and procedures but also equipped with technology backgrounds. Combining expertise in both technology and law, they are always ready to provide top quality services to clients.

The IP attorneys have been active in many organizations in IP areas, including the International Trademark Association and the International IP Protection Association. They often preside over international roundtable conferences, delivering topic speeches, and introducing China's laws and practices. Many of their IP writings and ideas have been published in domestic and foreign legal journals.

Service Scope and Service Method

Trademark

 •  Providing consultancy on trademark design and protection as well as designing strategies for overall trademark protection;
 •  Drafting, amending and reviewing legal documents for trademark assignment and license;
 •  Trademark searches and watching; 
 •  Preparing and filing trademark applications; 
 •  Representing clients before the Trademark Review and Adjudication Board (TRAB) for review of official decisions and petitions of cancellation of unfair registrations;
 •  Post-registration service including renewals, records of change of name/address, and records of license contracts, etc;
 •  Customs recordal of trademark rights and customs brand protection training;
 •  Investigation and evidence collecting on trademark infringement; 
 •  Participating in the administration punishment of trademark infringement and anti-counterfeiting investigation and infringement claims;
 •  Offering negotiation and other legal services for valuation of trademark investment and trademark license and assignment; and 
 •  Drafting trademark global protection and license strategies.

Patent

 •  Providing consultancy on patent protection and designing strategy for overall patent protection;
 •  Drafting, amending, and reviewing legal documents for patent assignment and license;
 •  Patent paper searches and watching patent rights status;
 •  Filing patent applications for inventions, utility models, and designs;
 •  Requesting for re-examination and invalidation;
 •  Providing customs recordal protection service;
 •  Investigation and evidence collection for patent infringement;
 •  Participating in administration adjudication and arbitration for patent disputes and infringements;
 •  Providing patent annual charge payment and reminding service
 •  Offering negotiation and other legal service for valuation of trademark investment and trademark license and assignment; and
 •  Drafting trademark global protection and license strategies.

Other IP related legal service

 • Providing legal services for copyright, domain name, trade secrets, product packaging, trade name, unfair competition etc.;
 •  Filing copyright registration and domain name registration;
 •  Investigation and evidence collection on infringements of copyright, domain name, trade secrets, product packaging, trade name, unfair competition etc.;
 •  Participating in mediation and administration penalties on disputes of copyright, domain name, trade secrets, product packaging, trade name, unfair competition etc.

IP Litigation

 •  Representing clients in administrative litigation against patent invalidation decision made by the Patent Committee; 
 • Representing clients in the administrative litigation for review of official decisions, petitions of cancellation of unfair registrations by Trademark Review and Adjudication Board (TRAB); and
 •  Representing clients in criminal self-defense suits concerning trademark, patent, and copyrights.