dispute resolution

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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

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。Continue Reading 使用盗版软件将可能导致在美国被诉 – 评美国华盛顿州新修订之《反不正当竞争法》

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 Miao Qu of King & Wood’s Intellectual Property  Group

This article continues to discuss Core Intellectual Property Issues in M&A and Investment. The first part of this article was published on Chinalawinsight on September 2011.

V. The Effect of the M&A on the IP Rights Agreements of the Acquiree

During the due diligence in a merger, special attention should be paid to the effect of the investment or merger on the intellectual property rights of the acquiree, especially the effect on license contracts. Two common problems are when the acquisition triggers a clause in a license contract changing control in a way that alters the effectiveness of the agreements, or some other clause in the agreements hinders future business of the acquired entity.

Case 5: A transnational company intended to purchase the domestic mobile communication department of another transnational company. During the due diligence investigations, we found a license contract between the acquiree and a state-owned enterprise ("SOE"). In this contract the acquiree licensed the core technology of the department to the SOE for exclusive use, and ensured that the core technology would not be transferred or licensed to any third party in specific locations. We contacted the management team of the acquiror and learned that the acquiror intended to transfer the technology to other domestic entities of the acquiror for implementation and management pursuant to its business framework. Therefore, we advised the acquirer that the acquiree should negotiate with the SOE to amend the license contract to ensure that the business could operate according to plan after the transaction.Continue Reading Core Intellectual Property Issues in M&A and Investment （Part II of II）

作者：瞿淼 金杜律师事务所知识产权组  

本文分两部分刊登， 2011年8月8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《投资并购交易中需要警惕的知识产权问题》进行解读。

五、并购行为对被收购方知识产权相关协议的影响

 在投资并购的尽职调查过程中，还需要特别注意投资及并购行为对一些知识产权权利可能产生的影响，尤其是对许可协议可能产生的影响。常见的情形有，收购导致触发控制权变更条款，从而可能影响协议的效力；或者协议原有的一些条款可能造成收购主体未来业务经营的妨碍。

案例五：某跨国公司拟整体收购另一跨国公司在中国境内的移动通讯业务部门。在尽职调查的过程中，我们发现被收购方曾与一国有企业签订一份许可协议，将该业务部门的核心技术许可该国有企业在中国进行排他性地使用，且承诺将不会将此技术在许可地域内转让或许可给任何第三方。知识产权律师应与收购方管理团队进行及时沟通，了解该公司的业务架构，明确收购方拟将收购获得的技术转让给收购方在中国的其它主体进行实施和管理。因此，应建议收购方在签署交易合同之前，由被收购方与被许可的国有企业协商修改许可协议，以保证交易后业务能够按计划运作。Continue Reading 投资并购交易中需要警惕的知识产权问题（二）

作者：张保生 金杜律师事务所争议解决组合伙人

2005年修订的《中华人民共和国公司法》（1）（下称“《公司法》”），对我国公司法律制度作出较大调整和完善，增加了公司纠纷的可诉性。但由于《公司法》的一些规定过于概括性、原则性甚至宣示性，司法实践中对公司诉讼案件同案不同判的现象比较常见。为解决《公司法》理解和适用的统一问题，指导司法实践和公司相关主体的商事活动，最高人民法院此前先后对《公司法》做出两个司法解释（2），重点明确《公司法》适用的一些基本原则和公司解散、清算问题。2011年2月16日，最高人民法院颁布《关于适用<中华人民共和国公司法>若干问题的规定（三）》(下称“司法解释（三）”)，对公司成立前债务承担、出资和股权确认等实践中争议较大的问题作出解释。本文试从实务角度对司法解释（三）进行解读。Continue Reading 《最高人民法院关于适用若干问题的规定（三）》实务解读

By Jeff Lane of King & Wood’s Dispute Resolution Group

"Combating bribery is about common sense …….." – UK Lord Chancellor, Kenneth Clarke

On 1st July, 2011, the long awaited Bribery Act will come into force. The Act, together with its Guidance Notes represents a major overhaul of the UK’s anti bribery legislation and creates one of the most comprehensive anti-corruption regimes anywhere in the world.Continue Reading The UK Bribery Act of 2010 Will Have Widespread Implications for Global Companies