Guide to IPR Protection in China for the Fashion and Design Industry

The fashion industry encompasses the design, manufacturing, distribution, retailing, marketing and promotion of clothing, footwear and accessories and is worth billions of euros every year.  Against this backdrop, emerging Asian countries are playing a key role in the production chain and as potential consumer markets. To be successful in this highly competitive market, SMEs need to develop a comprehensive IP strategy that allows them to gain advantage over competitors and deal with potential counterfeits. This guide takes a practical look at the most relevant intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and enforcement in China (trade marks, design patents and copyrights) with a particular emphasis on issues and challenges for European small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) in the fashion and design industry.