Licensing technology in China

The SME develops innovative wireless charging technology for various electronic devices. As a high-tech company, the SME understands the value of their IP. In fact, early investments in IP have enabled the company to change from their initial B2C product selling business model to a B2B licensing business model which has proven to be more lucrative for the SME. The company has developed a comprehensive IP strategy to protect their software, technology and know-how as well as the brand. The SME has registered patents, trade marks, layout designs and takes trade secret protection seriously. The SME has a very precise framework for patenting and licensing the new technology. Patent hold-outs, which is the practice of companies routinely ignoring patents and resisting patent owner’s demands because the odds of getting caught are small, are one of the concerns when licensing, and the SME has developed a robust strategy to mitigate the risks. The China market has always been appealing to the SME and in 2019, they established a collaboration with Chinese enterprises in Mainland China and in Taiwan.