China Law Insight : China Law Insight: China Commercial and Intellectual Property Lawyers and Attorneys, Full Service Law Firm: King & Wood

作者：楼仙英 姚迪 金杜律师事务所知识产权组

新修订的《中华人民共和国专利法》（1）（“专利法”）和《中华人民共和国专利法实施细则》（2）（“实施细则”）中对职务发明中发明人奖励与报酬进行了修改，在鼓励技术创新实现产业化的大背景下，这种改进充分发挥了制度在鼓励科技开发与技术创新以促进社会生产力发展方面的积极作用，但同时，特别是在日本蓝光案以7千万人民币和解结案的情况下，它也无疑给用人单位在技术创新方面的奖励和报酬管理制度上带来了一定的影响与挑战。

例如，根据《实施细则》第七十六条的规定，被授予专利权的单位可以与发明人约定或者在其依法制定的规章制度中规定奖励、报酬的方式和数额。因此，很多公司便纷纷在劳动合同中约定或在公司规章制度中规定，“双方确认并同意雇员的奖励和报酬包括在工资中”或“双方确定并同意雇员不要求任何奖励和报酬”等。其认为，只要合同基于双方意思自治，就不会存在风险。但在对各国职务发明制度进行比较研究后，我们认为这样的安排有很大风险，现分析如下：

为方便讨论上述问题，先简化问题如下：若雇主基于雇员的职务发明获得的巨大商业利润与雇员所获得的奖励与报酬完全不符时，雇员是否有权请求法院或仲裁机构变更或撤销合同，并请求额外的奖励和报酬？

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By Cecilia Lou and Steven Yao King & Wood's Intellectual Property Group

The Patent Law of the People's Republic of China(1)("Patent Law") and Regulations for the Implementation of the Patent Law of the People's Republic of China(2) ("Implementing Regulations") has drawn our attention to rewards and remuneration for inventors. The Patent Law stipulates that employers must pay reasonable rewards and remuneration to inventors of a service invention and the Implementing Regulations explicitly address the amount payable. For purposes of encouraging technological innovation and industrialization, the change is sure to play a positive role in motivating employee initiatives and promoting social productivity. However, it will also bring certain challenges to many employers in terms of compliance with reward and remuneration issues in China, especially when the Blue LED case in Japan resulted in a 70 million RMB settlement.

The key issue of concern to employers is: Whether the huge commercial benefits acquired by the employer based on a service invention made by its employee do not correspond to the remuneration received from the employer due to the creation of the service invention agreed in the remuneration clause in China, whether the employee shall be entitled to request the court to modify or even revoke the remuneration clause and request some additional remuneration?

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By Yan Jun and Chen Haiting King & Wood's Real Estate Group

With urbanization surging in China, conflicts triggered by urban housing demolition constitute a grave threat to social stability. In order to cope with the legislative demands posed by new situations, China's State Council ("CSC") made amendments to the Administrative Regulations on Urban Housing Demolition and Relocation(1)("2001 Regulations") and promulgated the Regulations on Expropriation and Compensation of Housing on State-owned Land on January 21, 2011 ("New Regulations").

Compared to the 2001 Regulations, the New Regulations set forth some principles in housing expropriation. The New Regulations stipulate that compensation standards should be set no lower than market prices, and require increased transparency during the expropriation process. The New Regulations specify circumstances under which compulsory expropriation can be conducted for the sake of the public interest. Though there are still some debatable points to be clarified, the New Regulations have made significant improvements in the regulation of public rights and the protection of private rights. The promulgation of the New Regulations caters to the economic and social development of China, which fully reflects China's legislative progress in building a more democratic society. This article will explore the major changes and highlights of the New Regulations.

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By King & Wood's Labor Group

On November 21, 2011, the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council released a notice to solicit public comments on the Regulations on Special Labor Protection for Female Employees (the "Draft Regulations"). The deadline for receiving comments on the Draft Regulations is December 23, 2011. The appendix of the Draft Regulations lists the scope of work prohibited to be assigned to female employees.

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作者：金杜律师事务所劳动组

2011年11月21日，国务院法制办公室（国务院法制办）发布通知，就《女职工特殊劳动保护条例（征求意见稿）》向社会各界征求反馈。本次意见征即截止至2011年12月23日，征求意见稿将女职工禁忌劳动范围作为条例的附录加以列示。

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作者：颜俊 陈海婷  金杜律师事务所房地产组

随着城市化的进一步推进，拆迁引发的矛盾愈发突出，这已成为社会一大不稳定因素。为适应新形势下的法治要求，国务院启动了对2001年修订的《城市房屋管理拆迁条例》（“旧条例”）（1）的修法程序，并于2011年1月21日公布并实施了《国有土地上房屋征收与补偿条例》（“新条例”）。

与旧条例相比，此次新条例的主要变化是明确了补偿标准市场化、征收程序透明化、公共利益明晰化、强制征收司法化等新制度、新原则，虽然还有不少值得探讨和需要进一步完善的地方，但新条例已有明显的进步以及不少的亮点。新条例在规范公权、保护私权方面有了突破，是一部与当前经济社会发展相适应，充分反映了中国民主法治水平的行政法规。本文将对新条例的一些主要变化和亮点作简要说明。

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作者：金杜律师事务所证券组

2010年11月16日，国务院办公厅转发的证监会、公安部、监察部、国资委、预防腐败局等五部委《关于依法打击和防控资本市场内幕交易意见》（国办发[2010]55号，以下简称55号文），就依法打击和防控内幕交易工作进行了统筹安排和全面部署，明确要求上市公司建立内幕信息知情人登记管理制度。中国证券监督管理委员会（证监会）于2011年10月25日公布《关于上市公司建立内幕信息知情人登记管理制度的规定》（《规定》），自2011年11月25日起施行。《规定》即是在证监会层面要求上市公司建立内幕信息知情人登记管理制度，是落实55号文的一项重要配套制度。

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By Zhang Shouzhi Li Xiang and Zhang Mei King and Wood's International Trade  Group

This article continues to discuss Legal Issues in Contracts for Sale of Large-sized Complete Set Equipment. The first part of this article was published on Chinalawinsight on October 2011.

II. Delivery and Acceptance

Because large-sized complete set equipment are often composed of multiple parts, it is customary for the manufacturing and delivery of equipment to occur in conjunction with the assembly sequence. Accordingly, there are multiple deliveries, installations and inspections during the contract performance. The general procedures are as follows:

A. Inspection

The first inspection of the equipment is usually an open-package joint inspection conducted by both parties upon the arrival of the equipment at the destination port. If the package appears intact, yet after inspection the equipment is found damaged, defective, short of quantity or not conforming to the quality standards and specifications, the buyer is entitled to request the seller to repair, replace, or supplement the parts in question or to claim compensation. If problems are found to arise from the transportation, the buyer's claim should be made against the carrier or insurance company. As an extra precaution, the buyer sometimes dispatches staff to do a preliminary inspection at the seller's factory or at the departure port before loading of the equipment.

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作者：张守志 张梅 李响 金杜律师事务所国际贸易组

本文分两部分刊登， 2011年10月12日金杜法律博客(Chinalawinsight)刊登的了本文的第一部分。文章第二部分将继续对《大型成套设备买卖合同中的法律问题》进行解读。

二、 交货及验收

由于大型成套设备通常由多个部分组成，因此往往是按照装配顺序，边生产、边交付。相应地，在合同履行过程中会发生多次交货、安装和验收。从设备交货到验收，通常会经历如下几个阶段：

1、检验

设备的第一次检验通常是在到达目的港后由买卖双方联合进行开箱检验。在包装完好的情况下，如检验发现设备存在损坏、缺陷、短少或不符合质量标准和规格的情况，买方有权要求买方修理、更换、补供或赔偿。如是运输中发生的问题，则需向承运人或保险公司索赔。有时，为稳妥起见，买方也会在设备生产完毕后或发货前，派员到卖方工厂或发货港对设备进行装船前预检。

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By Susan Ning, Ji Kailun and Yin Ranran

Only 10 days after its conditional clearance of the Alpha V/Savio deal¹, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) published, on 10 November 2011, the third conditional merger clearance of this year approving the proposed joint venture between General Electric (China) Ltd. (GE China) and China Shenhua Coal to Liquid and Chemical Co., Ltd. (CSCLC)². 

This is the first conditional decision relating to a Chinese Stated-owned enterprise (SOE) and the number of MOFCOM's conditional clearance decisions is lifted to nine in total.  According to MOFCOM's announcement, the review process lasted for about 7 months starting from April 13 when the notification was first submitted to MOFCOM.

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by Liu Xinyu and Jing Yunfeng of King & Wood's Corporate group

According to Articles 56 to 58(1) of the Customs Law of the People's Republic of China ("Customs Law")(2), there are three categories where duties may be reduced: statutory duty abatements or exemptions, deductions or exemptions on special goods, and temporary duty reductions or exemptions. "Deductions or exemptions on special goods" refers to goods imported into China that enjoy a reduction or exemption of duties in specified areas and enterprises or for special purposes until the expiration of customs supervision over such goods. Special goods which are subject to reductions or exemptions are divided into many categories according to the region, use of the goods, nature of the trading business and source of funds. According to related regulations, if the imported goods fall within certain product categories encouraged by the government, the foreign investment enterprise can apply for a preferential policy of deduction and/or exemption of duties.

However, in practice, some foreign investment enterprises, being unaware of customs supervision rules, receive penalties from China Customs offices for improper handling of these special goods that are otherwise eligible for reductions or exemptions of duties. Therefore, it is important for foreign investment enterprises to understand the relevant regulations concerning special goods that are eligible for deductions and exemptions.

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作者：刘新宇 景云峰 金杜律师事务所公司组

根据《中华人民共和国海关法》（《海关法》）（1）第五十六条（2）、五十七条第一款（3）以及第五十八条（4）的规定，关税的减免分为三大类，即法定减免税、特定减免税和临时减免税。其中，“特定减免税货物”是指货物在进口时减征或免征进口关税，进口后只能用于特定地区、特定企业或者特定用途，直至海关监管年限届满后解除海关监管的进口货物。而特定减免税货物又根据地区、货物用途、贸易性质、企业性质和资金来源等税收政策可分为很多种类。其中，根据有关政策规定，外商投资企业进口属于国家鼓励发展的外商投资项目货物时，可申请享受特定减免税优惠政策。

但是，实践中，很多外商投资企业却因对海关监管要求的不了解而违法处置特定减免税货物导致遭受海关的处罚。因此，对于外商投资企业而言，了解特定减免税货物监管的相关规定以及海关在实践中的要求是非常重要的。

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By Susan Ning, Sun Yiming and Liu Jia

On November 9, 2011, an earlier rumor indicating that China Telecom is under antitrust investigation for alleged abuse of dominance in the broadband market was confirmed by the National Development and Reform Commission ("NDRC"), the authority in charge of price-related breaches of the Anti-Monopoly Law ("AML").  This is by  far the first time for China's antitrust enforcement authority to conduct an antitrust investigation on large state-owned companies.  It is speculated that billions of antitrust fines could possibly be levied if the violation is established.

This article is a follow-up of our previous article entitled "Chinese Antitrust Enforcement Agencies Ready to Show Teeth to Large State-owned Enterprises? ", which includes a comprehensive analysis of the claimed violation.

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by Cecilia Lou and Yao Di of King & Wood's Intellectual Property Group

It is not uncommon to receive unsolicited emails from domain registrars warning of imminent domain registrations by third parties. Generally, this email is a means by which some registrars solicit business in China. In many cases there is no actual third party attempting to register the domain in question.

When receiving such domain name emails we suggest that clients consider the following measures:

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by Alex Zhang King & Wood Intellectual Property Group

As the second largest economy in the world, China is emerging to the center of the world's economic stage. This emergence has been accompanied by constant changes in its legal and economic sectors. The intellectual property sector also has witnessed numerous recent changes. There have been significant new advances in China's national innovation policies. New trends in Chinese patent filings have emerged. A growing number of Chinese companies are creating their own IP and increasingly filing infringement suits against foreign companies and their local competitors in China. China's third patent law amendment has materially changed patent practice and procedures in that country.

These changes and trends will have profound impacts on foreign companies doing business in China, especially in intellectual property areas. What are the best ways to deal with these important changes? The following several considerations should be evaluated in determining a company’s patent strategies in China.

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by Susan Ning and Liwei Wang

On September 11, 2011, the name of the previous Guangdong Provincial Price Bureau was officially changed to the PriceSupervision and Inspection and Antitrust Bureau of Guangdong Province (广东省价格监督检查及反垄断局, Guangdong PAB).  In connection with the expanded scope of its administrative authority, the agency will recruit additional officials for the purpose of supporting its price inspection and antitrust functions.  In addition, the administrative hierarchy of the post-reform Guangdong PAB is elevated, indicating heightened administrative authority.

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By Susan Ning, Liu Jia and Yin Ranran

On 31 October 2011, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) publicly announced the eighth conditional merger clearance since the enactment of the Anti-monopoly Law (AML) in 2008. According to its announcement ¹ ,  MOFCOM cleared the proposed acquisition by Alpha Private Equity Fund V (Alpha V) of Savio group (an Italia based textile machinery producer, Savio) with four conditions. This is also the second conditional merger clearance this year ² .

Set out below are the salient issues in relation to this conditional clearance decision.

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By Susan Ning and Liu Jia

On 31 October 2011, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) publicly announced the eighth conditional merger clearance since the enactment of the Anti-monopoly Law (AML) in 2008.  According to its announcement¹ , the review process lasted for 3.5 months starting from 14 July 2011 when the notification was submitted to MOFCOM. 

Set forth below is a chart outlining the review process.

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金杜律师事务所证券组

前言

2011年10月28日，香港联交所公布了《有关检讨企业管治守则及相关上市规则的咨询总结》，并通过全面修订《上市规则》的规定，对发行人的企业管治水平制定了更高标准。发行人独立非执行董事的占比不得低于董事会人数三分之一的规定正式出台。

大部分修订将在2012年初陆续生效。发行人必须在首份涵盖2012年4月1日之后期间的中期报告或年报中，分别表明发行人在报告期内有否遵守旧《企业管治常规守则》和新《企业管治守则》。发行人也可以选择在2012年4月1日前执行新的规定。

其中，《企业管治守则》的部分“建议最佳常规”提升为“守则条文”，即上市公司选择不遵守的，需要在年报披露原因，不遵守不视同违反《上市规则》。同时，《企业管治守则》内的部分“守则条文”提升为《上市规则》的强制性条文，即上市公司必须遵守，不遵守视同违反《上市规则》。大小修订合计近30项，从董事会和下属委员会、股东大会，以及公司秘书相关的规定，都有修订。发行人应当注意新规定对自身的影响，并尽快开展相关的提升企业管治水平的工作。

为方便发行人参考，我们摘录了若干我们认为对发行人实务操作影响较为显著的条文，列表说明如下。其他修订则在列表后简要说明。由于各发行人情况不一，如有需要，请尽快与公司香港律师商讨。 

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作者：胡梅 瞿淼 郁斯敏 金杜律师事务所争议解决组

2011年7月22日，美国华盛顿州通过了修改其《反不正当竞争法》的议案，新增一章名为《产品销售-窃取或盗用信息技术》的新法（以下简称“新法”）。根据该法律规定，在生产、经营中使用假冒盗版信息技术产品（包括假冒硬件产品和软件产品）并拒不改正的产品制造商，无论其违法行为发生在何处，只要其产品在华盛顿州销售或者许诺销售，都将可能构成不正当竞争，从而导致其在美国华盛顿州被政府或其竞争者起诉，并可能因此导致货物在美国被扣押、被禁止销售、以及被判令支付赔偿金，甚至惩罚性赔偿。该法案的颁布和实施虽然远在美国华盛顿州，但却对于全球所有向美国出口的制造业企业均有影响。中国被视为“世界工厂”而美国又是“中国制造”产品的最大出口市场，众多的中国制造企业均应注意该法案可能对其生产经营活动所产生的实质性影响，避免由于在生产经营过程中使用假冒盗版IT产品导致向美国出口受阻并引发其他法律风险。

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By King & Wood's Intellectual Property Group

Whether service trademarks used by shopping malls and supermarkets can be registered in International Class 35 and receive protection as a registered trademark is rigorously debated both academically and in judicial practice in China.

Opponents argue that the China Trademark Office (CTMO) has clearly stated that wholesale and retail services are not included in Class 35, and thus the services of shopping malls and supermarkets cannot be classified as such (the CTMO published this in their official written reply to Sichuan Provincial Administration for Industry and Commerce, "Reply to the Issue of Whether Shopping Mall and Supermarket Services are Included in Class 35" on August 13, 2004). Furthermore, it stated that the contents of "sale promotion (for others)" refer to providing advice, planning, promotion and consulting for others to sell goods or services. As a result of the Reply, even if a trademark is registered under "sales promotion (for others)", such marks of wholesale and retail enterprises, such as department stores, supermarkets, wholesale markets, can hardly be effectively protected by China's Trademark Law.

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金杜律师事务所知识产权组

在中国大陆的理论和司法实践中对用于商场、超市的服务商标可否获得注册保护以及是否应在国际分类第35类注册存在较大分歧和争议。

反对者认为，商标局曾于2004年8月13日在致四川省工商行政管理局《关于国际分类第35类是否包括商场、超市服务问题的批复》（“《批复》”）中已明确澄清第35类不包括商品的批发、零售，商场、超市服务不属于该类别。‘推销（替他人)’服务的内容是指为他人销售商品(服务)提供建议、策划、宣传、咨询等。显而易见，按照此《批复》，百货商场、超市、批发市场等批发、零售企业即使在“推销(替他人)”服务项目上注册其商标，也不能得到中国《商标法》的有效保护。

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By He Wei and Zeng Ying King & Wood's Dispute Resolution Group

This article continues to discuss Extra-judicial Mediation System and Practice. The first part of this article was published on Chinalawinsight on October 2011.

II. A review of extra-judicial mediation

Compared with mediation during arbitration or litigation, extra-judicial mediation can offer a more amicable way for the solving of disputes and avoid many of the disadvantages of "judicial mediation".

In judicial mediation judges and arbitrators primarily rely on rigid laws and regulations to guide the mediation process whereas the regulations applicable to extra-judicial mediation are more flexible. Article 17 of the Several Provisions provides that "in the mediation of cases, relevant organizations may, without violating the mandatory provisions of laws and administrative regulations, guide the parties to reach settlement agreements by referring to industrial practices, village regulations, community conventions, local good customs and other codes of conduct."

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作者：何薇、曾颖 金杜律师事务所争议解决组

本文分两部分刊登， 2011年10月31日金杜法律博客(Chinalawinsight)刊登的了本文的第一部分。文章第二部分将继续对《非司法体系下的调解制度及实践》进行解读。

二、非司法体系下的调解制度评析

非司法体系下的调解相对于诉讼和仲裁中的调解更有利于帮助当事人握手言和、消除纷争，同时也可以克服法院调解和仲裁调解的弊端，体现出自身独特的优势。

首先，在适用法律的问题上，仲裁和法院的调解中，法官和仲裁员作为法律专业人士，仍然多以刚性的法律法规为依据，引导当事人解决纠纷。而在非司法体系下的调解中，适用的规则就更加灵活。最高人民法院《若干意见》第17条规定：“有关组织调解案件时，在不违反法律、行政法规强制性规定的前提下，可以参考行业惯例、村规民约、社区公约和当地善良风俗等行为规范，引导当事人达成调解协议。”

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