INTA Delegation to China Strengthens Cooperation with Chinese IP Community on Emerging Issues

INTA Chief Policy Officer Heather Steinmeyer led a delegation to China to meet with local members and government officials in September. The delegation focused on intellectual property (IP) policy, sharing the latest global IP laws and regulations and enhancing cooperation with the Chinese IP community.

The delegation’s first stop was the Jiangsu High People’s Court in Nanjing, where Ms. Steinmeyer met with Chief Judge Tang. Ms. Steinmeyer commended the court’s efforts to improve judicial protections and safeguard the legitimate rights of brand owners and consumers. They had an in-depth discussion on damages awards, interim injunctions, and judicial measures against bad-faith filing issues.

The delegation continued with an appearance at the Global Trademark Law and Policy Reform Trends Exchange hosted by the Nanjing Market Regulation Agency. The event brought together brand professionals and representatives, more than 50 local government officials, along with other stakeholders, to discuss the latest global trends and challenges in IP. In her keynote address, Ms. Steinmeyer outlined the Association’s global policy advocacy efforts. She emphasized INTA’s strategic priorities in China and encouraged Chinese members to actively participate in the Association.

Ms. Steinmeyer gave interviews to two leading Chinese IP media outlets, IPR Daily and IP Economy. The discussions covered a range of topics, including the impact and challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) on IP, INTA’s role in the globalization of Chinese brands, services for Chinese members, and what will be some of the key highlights of the 2025 Annual Meeting. Notably, the interview with IP Economy was live-streamed, attracting more than 34,000 viewers and serving as a significant highlight of the delegation’s visit to China.

The delegation also participated in a workshop hosted by INTA’s China Representative Office, focusing on the trademark protection of AI-powered software and services. The event brought together representatives from the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and the Beijing Intellectual Property Court, brand owners, and industry experts to discuss the challenges in Class 9, a mega-class in the digital era driven by AI-powered software and services. This seminar marked INTA’s first joint program with CNIPA and the Beijing IP Court on a cutting-edge issue relevant to brand practitioners in China and globally.

INTA’s China Representative Office also organized a roundtable discussion entitled Collaboratively Combating Counterfeits in Beijing. The event gathered representatives from governments, businesses, e-commerce platforms, industry associations, and academia to address the latest trends, challenges, and effective strategies for online protection. Ms. Steinmeyer introduced the Association’s Board Resolution on Establishing a Framework for Protecting Consumers from Third-Party Sales of Counterfeit Goods via Online Marketplaces, adopted in November 2023. She emphasized that anticounterfeiting and IP enforcement are key priorities for INTA and that the Association will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders to address new challenges in online counterfeiting.

An INTA Town Hall, hosted by member firm Hogan Lovells, convened in Beijing with a packed audience. This in-person event brought together more than 30 INTA members and brand representatives to discuss the latest trends and challenges in global IP. Ms. Steinmeyer delivered a keynote speech outlining the Association’s mission and global advocacy activities. She highlighted INTA’s strategic priorities in China and encouraged Chinese members to actively participate in the Association.

The delegation’s final event was a keynote speech by Ms. Heather Steinmeyer titled “Strengthening Legal Cooperation to Promote Global Economic Development” at the 2024 Global Business Law Conference in Beijing. She emphasized that harmonized implementation of IP is of paramount importance to globalization and discussed the challenges facing the legal community posed by rapid technological change.

INTA’s China Representative Office, based in Beijing, represents the Association’s members in China. Working in collaboration with staff at INTA’s headquarters in New York City, the China Representative Office leads the Association’s policy, membership, marketing, and communications initiatives in this jurisdiction. To learn more about INTA’s activities in China, please contact INTA China Representative Monica Su and follow us on WeChat.

Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of this article, readers are urged to check independently on matters of specific concern or interest.

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