By Meg Utterback, Ariel Ye and James Rowland of King & Wood’s Cross Border Dispute Resolution Practice

The majority of cases, whether in court or arbitration, are settled. Parties weigh a variety of factors from the start of the dispute to award, constantly performing a cost benefit analysis. Generally speaking, issues such as principle and precedent often preclude a settlement. Parties will refuse to consider a good settlement if it violates an internal principle, e.g. no payment, even nominal, in the absence of liability;

Continue Reading Arbitration Negotiation Tips

By Susan Ning, Huang Jing and Angie Ng, King & Wood’s Competition Group

On 14 October 2010, the PRC National Copyright Administration (NCAC) published two pieces of regulations (the regulations) which govern the collection of copyright royalties for movies provided on the Internet, on flights and on public transport.(1)   Recently there have been concerns from internet cafes that these royalties are unreasonably high.(2)   There has also been some discussion in the press that these alleged “high” royalties could constitute an abuse of intellectual property rights, in breach of Article 55 of the Anti-Monopoly Law (AML).(3)

Continue Reading Domestic Movie Royalties – Too High?

 By Kenneth Choy, Partner, King & Wood Hong Kong

Rhombus Hotel and Resorts is a Vancouver based group that owns and operates three boutique hotels in Hong Kong. They are planning to open a fourth one next year to be named “Hotel MO by Rhombus” that they described in their website as “a Modern and Outstanding boutique hotel” in the heart of the Western District in Hong Kong.  As part of the preparation for the hotel opening, they formed two Hong Kong companies, HOTEL MO LIMITED and HOTEL MO MANAGEMENT LIMITED. As they gear up for the opening, they encountered opposition from a major hotel group.

Continue Reading Hotel Trademark Dispute in Hong Kong

By Susan Ning and Shan Lining, King & Wood’s Competition Group

On 14 October 2010, Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd (Tencent) launched an action against Beijing Qihoo Technology Co., Ltd (Qihoo) alleging that the latter has breached Article 14 of the Anti-Unfair Competition Law(1). Article 14 of the Anti-Unfair Competition Law prohibits entities from fabricating or spreading false facts, resulting in damaging the business reputation of a competing entity

Continue Reading QQ vs 360 – An Anti-unfair Competition Case

 By Fu Haiying, Partner, King & Wood’s IP Department

On April 24, 2009, the Changsha Intermediate People’s Court (the "Court") made a judgment in Michelin Group vs. Tan Guoqiang and Ou Can. In this first instance, the Court ruled that the Defendants, tire dealers Tan Guoqiang and Ou Can, infringed upon the Plaintiff’s exclusive right to use the registered trademark, "MICHELIN & Device," by selling imported Japanese-made tires (targeting the Brazilian market) without consent from the trademark owner and without obtaining a Chinese Compulsory Product Certification ("3C Certification").

Continue Reading Trademark Infringement in Parallel Importation

By Susan Ning, Huang Jing and Angie Ng, King & Wood’s Competition Practice

We understand that the SAIC is currently working on draft guidelines (the guidelines) which will shed light on how Article 55 of the Anti-Monopoly Law (AML) will be enforced. It has been reported in the press that the SAIC has published a 4th draft of these guidelines and are currently consulting with the relevant stakeholders (we understand that these drafts are not publicly available).

Continue Reading IP rights and Antitrust – Awaiting Guidelines (and the Tsum-Sony Case)

By Susan Ning and Ding Liang, King & Wood’s Competition Group

In September 2010, Wuxi Baocheng Vehicle Cylinder Inspection Co. Ltd (WB) filed a civil suit to against Wuxi China Resources Gas Co., Ltd (WCR), alleging that the latter abused its dominance, in breach of the Anti-Monopoly Law (AML) (the “WB-WCR case”). WB is engaged in the business of inspecting and installing compressed natural gas vehicle cylinders. WCR owns and operates natural gas filling stations. WB alleged that WCR abused its dominance by refusing to fill natural gas for a vehicle that was installed with a natural gas cylinder installed by WB, in breach of Article 17(3) of the AML. (1)

 

Continue Reading Natural Gas Cylinders and Abuse of Dominance

陈希佳、 罗千里
自2008年5月“马先生”在台湾地区开始执政以来,两岸关系日趋密切。首先,2008年6月举行第一次陈江会谈,议定两岸周末包机与大陆地区居民赴台旅游事宜;随后,2008年11月,第二次陈江会谈签署了两岸空运、海运、邮政及食品安全等四大协议;2009年4月,第三次陈江会谈除了签署《海峡两岸共同打击犯罪及司法互助协议》、《海峡两岸金融合作协议》及《海峡两岸空运补充协议》等三项协议外,最重要的是两岸达成“共同推动陆资来台投资”的共识,台湾地区也因此开始修订与实施一系列关于陆资来台的“法令”。

Continue Reading 陆资来台:春江水暖谁先知

 By Helena Chen and Charles Law, King & Wood’s Cross-Strait Research Group

Since the beginning of Ma’s leadership in Taiwan in May 2008, cross-strait relations have grown considerably closer. For example, the First Cheng-Chiang Summit in June 2008 expanded direct passenger flights and facilitated mainland residents’ travels to Taiwan. The Second Cheng-Chiang Summit in November 2008 explored issues relating to air transportation, shipping links, direct mail services, and food safety. In addition to establishing a consensus on jointly promoting PRC investment in Taiwan, the Third Cheng-Chiang Summit in April 2009 gave way to three agreements: Agreement on Joint Cross-Strait Crime-fighting and Mutual Judicial Assistance, Cross-Strait Financial Cooperation Agreement, andSupplementary Agreement on Cross-Strait Air Transport. As a result, Taiwan began amending and implementing laws and regulations concerning mainland investment in Taiwan.

Continue Reading Mainland Investment in Taiwan: Who Is the First to Take Advantage of Economic Deregulation?

By Susan Ning and Ding Liang, King & Wood’s Competition Group

In late August 2010, it was reported in the press that at least 10 antitrust private actions have been heard in the courts in China (see Two years on, ten private antitrust actions). This article describes one of the cases – Huzhou Yiting Termite Prevention Service Co., Ltd vs. Huzhou Termite Prevention Research Institute (an alleged abuse of dominance case) – in detail.

Continue Reading Termites and Abuse of Dominance