企业国外参展应注意的知识产权法律问题（中英文）/李俭

企业国外参展应注意的知识产权法律问题
IPR Legal Issue That Enterprise Shall Pay Attention
to While Attending Exhibition Abroad
北京市中银（南京）律师事务所 高级合伙人 李 俭
Beijing Zhongyin (Nanjing) law firm  Senior partner: Li Jian
  企业的产品在国外的各种博览会上参展，是企业走出国门、走向世界的重要一步，也是企业直接向国外的客户展示自己产品、品牌和企业的最好机会。通过短短的几天，就可以接触到国外大量的潜在客户，让客户对自己的产品和品牌有个直观、形象的认识，而且有利于双方面对面的交流，有利于双方就此建立直接的联系，加快企业跟国际市场的接轨。
   It is an important pace for enterprise to step abroad and towards the world and also a best opportunity for enterprise to directly exhibit their products and brand to foreign customers while attending various kinds of exhibitions abroad.
   近年来，国内越来越多的企业通过在参加产品博览会等国外参展的方式推销自己的产品，但在参展的过程中也遇到了很多的法律问题，有的甚至遭遇了参展产品当场被扣押、甚至被起诉的尴尬局面。企业在国外参展一般会遇到以下知识产权方面的法律问题：
   In recent years, more and more domestic enterprises market their products by attending products fair abroad, but some of them encounter many legal issues and even face the awkward situation that their products on show were detained on the exhibition spot or even were sued. Generally speaking, enterprises may encounter following legal issues concerning IPR while attending product exhibition abroad.
   1．展台设计、广告手册、宣传标语、图片等，如产品说明书、现场演示用软件或背景音乐等，若处理不当容易侵犯当事人的著作权；
   1. Design of exhibition booth, brochure of broadcast, advertising slogan, pictures etc, such as product specification, software for live demo or background music etc. If you handle it improperly, you may easily infringe other’s copyright.
2．不当使用他人的注册商标，容易侵犯当事人的商标权，尤其是驰名商标权利；
Improperly use of other’s registered trademark may easily infringe other’s  right of trademark, esp. well-known trademark.
3．产品外观设计参加展览的产品一般都是最先进的成果，所以其中很大一部分具备专利性。 这也是企业参展中最容易产生法律问题的地方。
Product of design that attend exhibition usually represents most advanced achievements, and most of which are of patentability. This is the right place that it may easily cause legal problem during exhibition.  
一般而言，欧盟在对待展会侵犯知识产权的情况一旦查证属实，会采取以下一些法律手段：
Generally speaking, EU will take following legal measures in case the infringement of IP has been verified during the exhibition.
1、向涉嫌侵权方发出“警告信”
Send warning letter to a suspect of infringing party.
在德国知识产权纠纷中，警告信是权利人提出诉讼前的要求书，一般由权利人的代理律师起草和发出，权利人将会要求其认为的侵权人停止正在进行的侵权行为，并承诺不再实施侵权行为。
In IP disputes in Germany, warning letter is a statement of requirements before IPR owner lodges a lawsuit which is usually drafted and issued by attorney agent of IPR owner. In the letter, IPR owner will require infringing party to stop infringement act and undertake not to perform infringement no longer.
2、紧急临时禁令
Urgent temproary injunction
紧急临时禁令程序是法院在紧急情况下发出的临时禁令，以禁止某种行为，从而避免这种行为今后造成的损失。这是知识产权纠纷案中最常见的诉讼程序。
Urgent temporary injunction procedure is a temporary injunction that court issues under emergency circumstances in order to prohibit certain act in order to avoid the loss it may cause in the future. This a most common litigation procedure in IPR disputes.   
临时禁令送达时，被告必须立即遵守；如果临时禁令包括扣押命令，原告将扣押产品并保存，直到民事法院作出最终裁决；如果被告不遵守，民事法院将判处高额处罚金并签发针对被告的逮捕令。
When temporary injunction is serviced, defendant must observe right away. If temporary injunction includes a seizure order, plaintiff will detain products and preserve it until civil court makes final decision. If defendant doesn’t observe, civil court will sentence to fines of a large amount and issue a warrant against defendant.
如果产品没有侵权，对临时禁令有这些应对措施：提起对临时禁令的抗辩；申请废除禁令；申请进入主要诉讼程序；要求临时禁令申请人赔偿损失。如果产品侵权，可对案件价值提出抗辩；与权利人沟通谈判，签署和解协议以彻底了结案件，避免进一步的法律费用。
If the product proves not to infringe other’s IPR, there are following answering measures against temporary injunction: file a plea against temporary injunction, apply to abrogate injunction, apply to enter into main litigation procedures, request compensation of loss from applier of temporary injunction. If the product infringes other’s IPR, the product owner may file a plea against case value, communicate with owner of IPR and sign the settlement in order to completely file the case and avoid further legal expenditure.  
3、海关扣押
Customs seizure
经权利人申请，海关发现涉嫌侵权产品入境，有权扣押保全展品。扣押既可在边境，也可在展览会场。产品扣押后，货主可以提出抗辩；如果没有侵权，则申请人要赔偿损失；如果确实侵权，货主可以同意海关销毁产品，以避免进一步的调查程序。
Upon application of IPR owner, in case customs finds products suspected of infringing other’s IPR, it is entitled to detain and preserve exhibited products which can be conducted both on the frontier or exhibition spot. After the products are seizured, its owner can raise a plea. If there is no infringement, the applicant may claim compensation of the loss. If product definitely infringes other’s IPR, product owner may consent with customs to destroy products by melting or burning in order to avoid further investigation procedures.
4、刑事程序  
Criminal procedure
在德国法律下，任何故意侵犯被授予的德国专利和欧洲专利的德国部分都构成刑事犯罪，专利权利人可以向警方和检查官提起刑事诉讼。在紧急情况下，警方可以自行采取行动，或在获得刑事法官的搜查令后开始行动，扣押物品，查封展台。在这种情况下，可以事先告诉警察官和刑事法官争议将涉及复杂技术问题，而且他们不能判定侵权和专利的有效性。如果认为没有侵权，可向法院提出抗辩，申请免予起诉。切不可置之不理，否则产品将丧失德国市场。
Under German laws and regulations, any act of intentionally infringing German and European granted patent will constitute criminal offense that IPR owner may lodge criminal lawsuit towards police station and prosecutor. Under emergency circumstances, police may take action by themselves, or start action after acquiring search warrant from criminal judge to seizure goods and seal up exhibition booth. Under such circumstances, you may tell policeman and criminal judge that as it will involve complicated technical issue, they cannot judge infringement and the effectiveness of patent. If one thinks there is no infringement, he can raise a plea to court and apply for immunity from suit, but he cannot ignore, otherwise, he may lose Germany market.   
一旦在欧盟其中一国涉嫌侵权，强制措施将同样适用于欧盟各国。
Once your product constitutes a suspect of infringement act in any of EU countries, compulsory measures will be adapted to all other EU countries similarly.
随着会展经济的蓬勃发展，展览会上知识产权问题也日益凸显，给展会市场带来了干扰与负面影响。知识产权侵权问题已经成为中国企业进入海外市场的首要问题之一，企业如何能保证在国外参加产品博览会能卓有成效但同时又能有效地避免法律风险呢？应从以下三个方面进行把握。
With the development of exhibition economy, IPR issue on the exhibition becomes highlighted increasingly which brings disturbance and negative effect on exhibition market. IPR infringement issue has become primary problem for Chinese enterprise entering into overseas market. How can enterprise guarantee the high effectiveness of product exhibition at abroad and simultaneously effectively avoid legal risks? Enterprise shall proceed from three points as follows:
一、参展前的充分准备
Full preparation before exhibition
（一）先行了解
Investigation beforehand
为了避免在国际展会上遇到知识产权纠纷，中国企业非常有必要了解和熟悉参展国相关的知识产权法律，在参展前进行必要的法律咨询，甚至聘请这方面的专业律师对所在国有关的知识产权问题提供律师建议。展览公司应当有义务提供必要咨询服务，参展商还以向参展国的法律咨询机构或律师咨询，还可以利用互联网进行检索，了解参展国的知识产权保护法律体系和知识产权法的执法机构和执法程序，尽可能降低知识产权纠纷，减少损失。
In order to avoid IPR disputes on the international exhibition, Chinese enterprises are necessary to know and master related IPR laws and regulations of the country where the exhibition locates and conduct necessary legal consultation before exhibition even engage a professional IPR lawyer to provide lawyer’s opinions and suggestions. Exhibition company shall be obliged to provide necessary consultation service. Exhibition participant can consult with local legal consultation institution or lawyer or search on the internet to understand IPR protection law system and executive institution and its procedures of hosting country in order to decrease IPR disputes and reduce loss.
另外，对于自己携带参展的产品，最好能确定其合法的来源。如果是从企业获得的产品，则必须由其出具相应的手续如授权参展的证明文件等，以证明其来源的合法性，或者提供相关的专利证书复印件等。
Besides, it is best for exhibitors to ascertain the legitimate source of the products brought to the exhibition. If the product is acquired from enterprise, one shall provide relevant procedures and authorized documentary evidence for exhibition to prove its legitimacy, or provide relevant copy of IPR certificate.
（二）准备证件
  Preparation of certificates
   赴国外参展时，一定要带好企业营业执照、产品的有关书面材料、产品专利证书、专利许可证书、注册商标证书等文件。如果展品在以前发生过产权纠纷而被法院或权威机构证实没有产生侵权行为的相关证明，务必携带；如果再次发生知识产权纠纷，这些文件就可以派上用场。
  When one goes to attend exhibition abroad, you shall bring business license, related written materials of products, IPR certificate, patent license, certificate of registered trademark etc. If product owner has relevant certificate that proves the product not to infringe other’s IPR when involved in IPR disputes, one must bring it along because it will be useful once the product is involved in any IPR disputes.   
二、参展现场遭遇问题时积极应对
Actively answering the encountered problem on the exhibition spot
（一）从容应诉
Calmly answering
不少国内公司在国外参展时受到知识产权侵权指控时，对于指控不予理会，有的撤掉展品溜之大吉，或者采取“鸵鸟政策”。前国务院副总理吴仪奉劝企业界的老总们绝对不要抱着‘饿死不讨饭，冤死不打官司’的陈腐观念，要敢于去打官司……”。
Many of Chinese companies ignore accusation when they get involved in IPR infringement accusation during exhibition abroad. Some of them removed exhibits and flee away, or take ostrich policy. Former vice premier Ms.Wu Yi persuaded enterprises GM not to insist the outworn concept of “would rather starve to death instead of begging and would rather suffer from wrongful treatment to death instead of suing” and encourage them bravely respond to the lawsuit.   
在某国际展会开展第一天，德国某公司就我国参展商安泰科技有限公司代理的压花玻璃侵权纠纷，拍照取证，并向安泰公司提出立即撤下侵权展品，中止参展，并收取补偿金等诉求。面对此突发事件，企业不能置之不理，而应当与对方积极沟通，在保护己方商业秘密的前提下，向对方提供必要的证明材料。如果没有侵权，则消除误会；如果被确认侵权了，则与对方进行专利许可谈判，或者不再展出该产品。协商解决是最好的办法。
The first day during certain international exhibition, a German company came to take picture and collect evidence towards patterned glass that exhibitor Taian science co.,ltd.(hereinafter referred as “Taian company”) acted as an agent and requested Taian company to remove infringing products from exhibition booth, stop exhibition, and pay compensation. Facing this emergency, enterprise cannot just ignore but shall actively communicate with the opposite party to provide necessary materials under the premise not to disclose own business secret. If it proves to be no infringement, then misunderstanding has been cleared up. If it proves to infringe other’s IPR, then one shall conduct patent licensing negotiation, or remove this product. Settlement through negotiation shall be the best choice.   
（二）冷静处理
  Calmly dealing with
   在大型的国际展会上，国外企业如果发现知识产权侵权，一般会由律师出具警告信或者由法院发出临时禁令。律师出具的警告信内容包括对具体侵权行为的描述，要求对方限期停止侵权的声明，惩罚条款等。同时，常常附律师费用账单。中国展商如果接到此类警告信，首先要做两点判断：
  On a large-sized international exhibition, if foreign enterprises find IPR infringement, first of all, they will entrust lawyer to present with warning letter or apply for issuance of temporary injunction by court. The warning letter provided by lawyer includes detailed description of tort act, statement of requiring the other party to stop infringement and punishment terms etc. Meanwhile, it will often be attached with bill for lawyer charge. If Chinese exhibitor receives such kind of warning letter, you shall first make two judgements:  
第一，是否存在展品侵权；
Firstly, define if your exhibited product has tort act or not;
第二，标的值定得是否过高。
Secondly, if the value of target subject matter are set too high
如果认为警告有理，产品确实侵权，或存在侵权的可能性，可以有条件地签署；如果坚持自己没有侵权，则一定不能签署，还可以向对方发出反警告或向法院提交保护信。此外，签署了警告信的企业，需要承担权利人委托律师发警告的费用。对没收的侵权展品要求开具清单，并查看是否与被侵权展品吻合，以便作为今后提出诉讼的依据。
If the warning is regarded reasonable and product definitely infringes other’s IPR, or has the possibility to infringe, the product owner may conditionally sign the letter. If you think your product has not infringed other’s IPR, then you shall not sign the letter and on the contrary, you can issue counter-warning or submit letter of protection to court. In addition, if you signed the warning letter, you shall assume the charge arising from issuance of warning letter from lawyer entrusted by obligee. Product owner shall ask for inventory of confiscated infringing products and check if it is same as the infringed products, and keep it as the evidence for litigation later.
警告信并不是法律规定的强制程序，权利人可以在不发出警告的情况下直接提起诉讼。
Warning letter is not compulsory procedures that stipulated by law. Obligee may directly lodge a lawsuit without issuance of warning letter.
（三）避免冲突
Avoidance of conflict
几年前德国科隆五金展期间，参展中国企业与当地警察发生严重冲突，起因就源于一家中国企业的样本图片侵权。如果我们没有因为侵权而被处罚，却因为与警察发生冲突被抓，就非常不值得了，所以尽量避免与执法人员发生冲突，通过合法的途径进行交涉。
Several years ago during the period of hardware exhibition in Colon, Germany, Chinese exhibitor collided severely with local policemen arising from picture infringement of a Chinese enterprise. It is worth nothing to be arrested by clash with local policemen instead of punishment by infringement. Therefore, one shall do his best to avoid clash with law enforcement officials and negotiate through legitimate channel.  
三、确实存在问题时妥善解决
  Properly solving the problem once there is
（一）适时聘请律师
Engaging lawyer at the right moment
   国外的法律与国内不同，而且国外比国内更注重法律，应聘请懂得国外法律的专业人士来处理所产生的展览商品的知识产权纠纷，或者在参展前寻找和联络参展国对展会知识产权保护有经验和相当声誉的当地律师事务所作为合作对象。
  Foreign laws are quite different from domestic ones and foreigner pay more attention to laws, thus exhibitor shall engage foreign professional person to handle IPR disputes arising from exhibited products, or find a cooperative partner that has rich experience on protection of exhibited products IPR and local law firm that enjoys remarkable reputation before exhibition.  
（二）选择可行方案
Selection of practicable plan
   2005年4月在德国汉诺威设备展上，德国SEW认为杭州减速机厂等四家中国企业的参展产品侵犯其外观设计专利，向当地有关部门提起临时禁令，撤销了中方四企业的展位，并扣压了参展产品。德国为欧盟成员，临时禁令申请人的权利将延伸至欧盟各成员国，被提起临时禁令的企业将有可能与欧洲市场绝缘。该案引起了中国齿轮专业协会的高度重视，在其牵头下，德方SEW与中方四企业坐上了和解的谈判席。经过多次的协商、沟通，对协议每一条款进行反复探讨和修改，最终历时长达一年的时间，德方SEW与我国企业达成满意的和解条款，并正式签订了和解协议。
On the equipment exhibition in Hannover, Germany, in April 2005, German company SEW thought products on exhibition from Hangzhou Reduction box factory infringed their design patent, therefore they applied injunction from local relevant authority to remove exhibition booths of four Chinese enterprises and detained products for exhibition. As a member of EU, rights of applicant for temporary injunction extend to all remained EU member countries which will cause the enterprises that have been adapted to temporary injunction to be rejected out of whole European market. This case has drawn high attention of China gear industrial association. In the lead of Association, German SEW and four Chinese enterprises sit together for negotiation and conciliation. Through many rounds negotiation and communication and after repeat exploration and modification to every term of the agreement, German SEW and Chinese enterprises has finally reached a satisfactory conciliation term and officially signed the agreement after one-year efforts.   
（三）权衡利弊，降低损失
   Weighing the advantages and disadvantages and reducing loss
   企业要从经济上考虑成本是否大于收益作为取舍的依据，所以对于在国外参展出现知识产权问题也应该好好权衡利与弊，以经济利益为重。如果我们不应对意味着我们可能失去国外市场，应对的话需要支付大量的费用，从眼前看来是得不偿失，但从长远来讲我们必须积极应对知识产权侵权指控，聘请当地律师为我们分析各种解决方案，各种方案都有利弊，两害相权取其轻，应当选择对企业损害最少的方案，以便将损失降到最低。
   Considering if cost is higher than income or not, enterprise shall weigh the advantages and disadvantages of IPR issue while attending exhibition abroad and regard economic benefit as a weight. If we refuse to face the IPR issue we may lose foreign market, and if we face it, we have to pay a large amount of money on the contrary. In the short term, our cost is more than benefit, but from the long term, we have to actively face the accusation of IPR infringement and engage local lawyer to help us analyze various settlement plan to solve it. Every plan has its pros and cons. We shall weigh the two plan and select the one which brings less disadvantageous to our enterprises in order to reduce loss to a minimum.  
四、自我保护
Self-protection
（一）树立自身保护意识
   Building up sense of self-protection
   中国企业到国外参展屡遭投诉，不排除国外势力打压我国企业的产品出口，
甚至限制我国企业参加国际展会的参展机会和面积的初衷。一些发达国家把知识产权作为维护本国利益和经济安全的一项战略资源，一些企业将知识产权视为获取市场竞争优势的一种重要手段，这充分表现在他们强烈的保护意识和积极主动的实际行动上。所以我国的企业要尊重知识，尊重创新的前提下，自己不侵犯别人的知识产权，同时也要学会保护自己的权利不受他人的侵犯。
   The reason why Chinese enterprise frequently encounter claims while attending exhibition abroad cannot exclude that foreign powers suppress exported products from China and restrain Chinese enterprises of the opportunities and square of attending international exhibition.
Some advanced countries regard IPR as a strategic resource to safeguard its own economic benefits and safety and some enterprises take IPR as an important means to acquire market competition advantage through showing their strong sense of protection and practical act. Our enterprise shall not infringe other’s IPR and learn how to protect its own IPR from infringement under the premise of respecting knowledge and innovation simultaneously.   
（二）寻找侵权证据
   Finding evidence of tort
   寻找侵权线索实际上是寻找国外公司侵犯我们知识产权的证据，在国外取证一定要符合国外的法律规定，每个国家的法律规定都有所不同，在中国是合法的取证手段，在国外可能被看成是非法，其证据将被认定无效，有的证据形式是合法的，但是我们取证的手段不符合国外的法律规定，同样该证据也无效。关于取证最好还是委托国外的律师来全权处理。
   Finding tort clue means to find the evidence that foreign company infringes our IPR. Obtaining evidence abroad, we shall comply with local laws and regulations because laws and regulations regarding obtaining evidence vary from country to country. Means proved to be legitimate while obtaining evidence in China may be regarded illegally abroad. If the means of obtaining evidence is proved to be illegal, then the evidence acquired will be regarded null and void. It’s better to entrust foreign lawyer to obtain evidence.
（三）及时投诉
Claim timely
   在国际展会上，我国参展企业的知识产权同样面临被其他国家的企业侵权的情形。河南洛阳名特玻璃技术有限公司在一次国际展会上发现奥地利一家公司完全照抄自己的钢化炉生产线宣传材料，名特公司立即在律师的陪同下对其提出警告，并勒令其纠正错误，经我方据理力争和强烈要求下，外方改正其作法，并承认错误。
   On international exhibition, our exhibitors similarly face the situation that IPR may be infringed by enterprises from other countries. Henan Luoyang Mingte glass technical co.,ltd. once found an Austrian company completely copied its own publicity materials on an international exhibition. Mingte company , accompanied by lawyer, addressed warning to this company and compelled it to revise its mistake. Upon our strong argument on the just grounds and request, foreign party finally revised their act and acknowledged their mistake.
总之，我国参展企业应重视参展过程中侵权和被侵权的可能性存在，事先综合分析各项因素的存在。只有这样，参展企业才能避免侵权的同时，自身权益也能够得到有效保护。
   In a word, our exhibitors shall put emphasis on the existing possibilities of infringement and being infringed on the exhibition and analyze various kinds of elements previously. Only by doing this, exhibitors can avoid infringement of other’s IPR and protect its rights and benefits effectively.  
【作者】李俭，男，1967年出生，汉族，现为北京中银（南京）律师事务所高级合伙人，投资并购部主任，南京大学法律硕士，美国马里兰大学/国际法学院高级访问学者，常州仲裁委员会委员，南京市律协建筑房地产专业委员会委员，南京市律协国际业务发展研究委员会委员，业务主营：涉外法律服务，投资并购及建筑房地产。
[Author] James Lee, born in 1967,Han nationality, senior partner of Beijing Zhongyin (Nanjing) law firm, director of International business dept.master degree of Nanjing university, senior visiting scholar of Maryland university and International law institute, Arbitrator of Changzhou arbitration Committee, Commissioner of International Legal Business Working Committee of Nanjing Lawyers Association
Commissioner of Construction and Real Estate Committee of Nanjing Lawyers Association.
Mainly focus on foreign-oriented legal service, investment and M&A, as well as construction and real estate.
联系方式：025-58785588-8076, 138 0903 1903
E-mail: jameslee318@hotmail.com