Dispute Resolution

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By Richard W. Wigley of King & Wood’s Dispute Resolution Group

Data privacy for internet users is a topic of concern the world over, with the P.R.C. being no exception. Internet information service providers (hereinafter also referred to as "IISPs"), such as commercial websites, regularly collect information from online visitors, sometimes with full knowledge of the visitors and sometimes unknown to the visitors. In addition, IISPs have been known to maliciously introduce software incompatible with the user’s existing software, install certain software such as "spyware" onto users’ computers/mobile devices and/or change users’ browser configurations without permission, and it goes without saying that "pop up ads" are an ongoing online annoyance. As online users in the P.R.C. look for protections from such unwanted invasions of their privacy and restrictions upon user control of their online experience, the recently released "Several Provisions on Regulating the Market Order for Internet Information Services" (hereinafter referred to as the "Provisions") provides needed rules and regulations in this regard.[1]   Continue Reading New M.I.I.T. Provisions Provide Additional Online User Control and Data Privacy Protections

By Wu Wei and Su Shaohua King & Wood’s Dispute Resolution Group

Under China’s anti-bribery laws, the value of bribes in commercial bribery cases is calculated on a cumulative basis in the conviction and sentencing process. However, such calculations may yield varying results in practice. According to our experience, due to a lack of clarity in the law and various policy rationale for fighting corruption, cumulative calculations give rise to risks of criminal liability, whether seen as accepting or offering bribes.

I. Calculation of Value for Bribes Accepted

A. Legislation

a. The second paragraph of Article 383 of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China(1) ("Criminal Law") provides:" Toward those who have committed repeated crimes of graft, all amounts of graft of unhandled cases are to be added in meting out punishment." Article 386 of Criminal Law provides:" whoever commits the crime of accepting bribes is to be punished on the basis of Article 383 of this law according to the amount of bribes and the circumstances. A heavier punishment shall be given where a bribe was specifically demanded."Continue Reading Calculation of Value in Commercial Bribery Cases

作者：吴巍 苏少华 金杜律师事务所争议解决组

对贿赂犯罪定罪量刑时，行贿受贿数额在何种情形下会被累计计算，实务中的做法不统一。在司法实践经验中，由于法律规定不够明确、打击腐败的政策等原因， 无论是受贿还是行贿均存在被累计计算的法律风险。具体分析如下：

一、受贿罪累计计算问题

1、法律规定

（1）《中华人民共和国刑法》（1）（“《刑法》”）第三百八十三条第二款规定：“对多次贪污未经处理的，按照累计贪污数额处罚。”第三百八十六条规定：“对犯受贿罪的，根据受贿所得数额及情节，依照本法第三百八十三条的规定处罚。索贿的从重处罚。”Continue Reading 商业贿赂数额累计计算问题

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:Continue Reading Fighting Off Cybersquatters in China

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."Continue Reading Extra-judicial Mediation System and Practice （Part II of II）

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。”Continue Reading 非司法体系下的调解制度及实践（二）

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

Mediation in China can be divided into three categories: mediation supervised by the people’s court, mediation supervised by an arbitral tribunal and mediation without the supervision of a court or arbitral tribunal. The first two categories of mediation share many similarities. Both of them are conducted by particular institutions in accordance with statutory proceedings, and the settlement agreements reached have the same binding force as judicial judgments. These two categories of mediation, because of their "quasi-judicial" nature, are usually collectively referred to as "judicial mediation". Usually such bodies are decision making—and a mediation must give only the parties control over decisions.

Besides judicial mediation there are many other forms of mediation, which also help resolve disputes and lift the heavy caseload of the courts and arbitration institutions. These forms of mediation can be collectively described as "extra-judicial mediation". Extra-judicial mediation, which provides parties with more alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, plays a very important role in today’s fast-growing economy.Continue Reading Extra-judicial Mediation System and Practice （Part I of II）

作者：何薇、曾颖 金杜律师事务所争议解决组

我国目前的调解制度主要包括法院调解、仲裁调解、以及法院和仲裁调解之外的其他调解。法院调解与仲裁调解有很多共同之处，他们均依托于规范的机构和严格的程序，其调解协议具有充分的法律效力，加之仲裁在一定程度上具有“准司法”的性质，两者往往可以合称为“司法体系下的调解”。与之相对，法院和仲裁程序之外还存在着很多其他形式的调解，有效解决了大量的纠纷，大大减轻了诉讼和仲裁的压力，可以统称为“非司法体系下的调解”。非司法体系下的调解在利益多元化的今天提供了多元化的纠纷解决机制，在社会生活中发挥了非常重要的作用。

非司法体系下的调解制度在我国由来已久，并且在实践中被广泛应用。它既包括在专门调解机构的主持下进行的调解，也包括没有调解机构参与的调解。处理的争议既可以是民事的，商事的，也可以是行政的。非司法体系下的调解包括以下几大特征：第一，自愿性。当事人将自己的争议交由自己选择的第三方处理，而且纠纷的范围和内容均是当事人可以自行处分的。调解员必须始终尊重当事人的意志，不得有任何的勉强和强迫。第二， 独立性。非司法体系下的调解独立存在，不附属于任何其他程序。第三，调解的结果没有强制执行力。第四，调解的结果不影响当事人以其他公力救济的方式寻求争端解决。Continue Reading 非司法体系下的调解制度及实践（一）

by Cecilia Lou and Vincent Yu of King & Wood’s Interllectual Property Group

Service inventions created by employees ("Service Invention") are valuable intangible assets for employers, which makes it important to distinguish Service Invention from non-service invention. The Patent Law of the People’s Republic of China ("PRC Patent Law")(1)provides a rudimentary definition of Service Invention leaving many questions unanswered, such as what is the definition of "employee" for purposes of defining Service Invention, and what "tasks of the Entity" should include. Due to those uncertainties, many disputes arise as to the ownership of the right to patent inventions. This article summarizes the requirements and burden of proofs of Service Invention by analyzing actual cases, followed by a comprehensive strategy to avoid those disputes from the perspective of an employer.Continue Reading How to Interpret Service Invention in China

By Meg Utterback and Holly Blackwell of King & Wood’s Dispute Resolution Group 

 

Whether you are building a manufacturing plant, a petrochemical plant or just fitting out an office, local rules and local authorities can play a significant role in your project. Local regulations and practice varies widely, from designer and contractor qualifications to requirements for building completion. Finding the right contractors for design and construction can make the difference in completing on time and on budget.

Here are some tips to avoid common pitfalls:Continue Reading Owner Tips for Managing Construction Projects in China