Name: 7 Companies Caught in China's 'Copycat' Trap
Uploaded: 2021-11-18T20:36:22.000Z
Description: Brands from around the world want to sell their products in China. After all, the country is home to a 1.4 billion strong market—a population no other nation can fully match.

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

NTD Plus

Shows

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

China Builds US Destroyer Replica at Missile Test Site

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

China's Aircraft Carrier Sails Through Taiwan Strait

China's Supercomputer Takes Top Spot, Raising Stakes in US-China Tech Race

1 in 10 Chinese Adults Face Debt Problems in China

Vivian Li is a producer and reporter based at NTD’s global headquarters in New York City. With more than a decade of experience as a reporter and anchor for NTD’s Chinese-language division, she now primarily contributes to NTD’s English-language program China in Focus.

Vivian Li

Dutch to Enter US-led AI Alliance Despite Tension Over Export Rules

US, China Courts Brazil Over Rare Earths

South Korea’s 10 Percent Market Drop Sends Shockwaves Through US Chip Stocks

Beijing’s New Ethnic Unity Law Threatens US Citizens

Senators Urge FCC to Probe China Made Health Wearables

Jacob Burg reports on the state of Florida for The Epoch Times. He covers a variety of topics including crime, politics, science, education, wildlife, family issues, and features. He previously wrote about sports, politics, and breaking news for the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

Jacob Burg

News

Science &amp; Tech

AI-Powered Cyberattacks on Advanced Systems May Be Months Away, Intel Agencies Warn

Tiffany Meier is an anchor, China news investigative reporter, and producer for NTD News based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Tiffany anchors NTD's flagship shows "NTD Evening News" and "China in Focus" and co-moderates NTD's special election coverage "The Nation Decides." She produced the award-winning NTD Original documentary "Hollywood Takeover: China's Control in the Film Industry."


Tiffany Meier

China Builds US Destroyer Replica at Missile Test Site; US Breaks China Mineral Monopolies

US, China Court Brazil Over Rare Earths; One in Ten Chinese Adults Face Debt Problems

Taiwan Begins Drill Simulating War; China Sanctions US Rare Earth, Defense Firms

Ukrainian Drone Makers Target Asian Markets; Taiwan Approves $6.7 Billion Drone Defense Plan

Trump Thanks Xi, Putin for Their 'Neutrality'; US Embassy Warns Travelers of China Exit Bans

US, Japan Reaffirm Indo-Pacific Partnership; US Senate Condemns Xi Jinping

US Issues 3 Warnings in 2 Days on China; Beijing Detains 2 Christian Leaders

G7 Summit Eyes Supply Chain Resilience; US Agencies Ban Chinese-Origin Goods

China Arrests US Citizen; SpaceX’s Ambition May Depend on China

US Sanctions Chinese Entities Over Iran Weapons; China Leveraging Nuclear Buffer Against US?

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

World News

Americas

Helicopter With Singer Oliver Tree on Passenger List Collides With Another in Brazil, Killing 6

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

Iran's Football Team Leaves Note of Friendship

Melanie is a reporter and editor covering world news. She has a background in environmental research.

Melanie Sun

US News

State News

California

California Governor, LA Mayor Declare Emergency Over Warehouse Fire

News with integrity, from the United States and around the world. Focused reports and analyses that shed light on major issues the world deserves to know. NTD Evening News airs daily at 6 p.m. ET.

NTD Evening News

Up to 900 Planes Grounded Worldwide Amid Engine Shortage, United CEO Says

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

Andrew Thomas is a reporter for NTD News primarily covering business, the economy, and technology. 

Andrew Thomas

NASA Reverses Evacuation Alert Order for Astronauts Aboard Space Station

Rudy Blalock is a Southern California-based daily news reporter for NTD. Originally from Michigan, he moved to California in 2017 and the sunshine and ocean have kept him here since. In his free time, he may be found underwater scuba diving, on top of a mountain hiking or snowboarding, or at home meditating—which helps fuel his active lifestyle.

Rudy Blalock

8 Dead After B-52 Bomber Crashes at Edwards Air Force Base in California

Ohio

At Least 12 People Shot at Ohio Festival, Search for Suspects Ongoing: Police

Mary Man is a writer for NTD. She has traveled around the world covering China, international news, and arts and culture.

Mary Man

Daniel Monaghan is a reporter for NTD News covering culture, social issues, and education. He holds a BA in Political Science and Government.

Daniel Monaghan

China News

Epoch Times Obtains Over 2,000 Unseen Tiananmen Square Photos on 37th Anniversary of the June 4th Massacre

US Embassy in Israel Issues Travel Alert for Much of Middle East

Los Angeles Warehouse Fire Prompts Shelter-in-Place Orders

Label

Live

NTD+ Live

NYC Firm Hosts Book Party on Investing in Critical Minerals Beyond Beijing’s Reach

'Mineral War' Author on China's Rise, Global Response

China’s Long Arm on American Soil

Special Reports

Global Trade Under the Shadow of the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre

How Americans View China and Chinese ‘Elections’: Special Report

Countering Communism in US With Memorial for Its Victims

US Funding Chinese Communist Party Economic Growth: Experts

China's Artistic Censorship Aimed at Americans: Browde

Taiwan 2024 Special Election Coverage: China in Focus

Expert: Why Social Media Apps Are 'Legal Malware'

Brands from around the world want to sell their products in China. After all, the country is home to a 1.4 billion strong market—a population no other nation can fully match.

But there's one problem business leaders—from Steve Jobs to Elon Musk—have to deal with in exchange for that market access: copycats.

Many major brands have gotten dragged into years-long legal disputes to protect their trademarks. And to make things worse, the Chinese court system won't necessarily side with the established brands. Sometimes, the real brands are even forced to apologize—and pay millions of dollars in compensation to their copycats.

That's all made possible by a practice known as “trademark squatting”—a technique often used by Chinese companies.

First, they register trademarks for famous foreign brands, and then sit on them. That way, when the real brand enters the China market, they can then sue the owner and demand money.

The practice has survived because of a policy under the country's trademark law, which follows a “first file, first serve” principle, meaning whoever registers the trademark first, gets it. Whereas in the United States, it's given to the first company to widely use it.

In this special report, we look at seven companies that found themselves caught in the trap.

Programs

china

Companies

Videos

Business News

04_Top Stories

trademark

Latest Clips

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.