A trademark dispute between a US theorist and a Swedish consulting firm was settled at the Pudong New Area People's Court of Shanghai, where professional mediation protected both parties' market interests and fostered future collaboration and trust.
Protecting intellectual property is fundamental to fostering innovation. A notable case in the development of Shanghai's international sci-tech innovation center recently earned high praise from Daren Tang, director-general of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), for its successful mediation result.
Shanghai courts have developed improved approaches for resolving foreign-related IP disputes, demonstrating to global innovators that IP can be protected effectively through professional and efficient dispute resolution, leading to mutually beneficial outcomes.
The Pudong Court emphasized a three-pronged approach — philosophy, ecosystem, capacity — by assigning complex cross-border cases to the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center Shanghai. This center developed innovative solutions like joint trademark ownership, which maintained business relationships and confidentiality.
Opened in October 2019 with approval from the Ministry of Justice, the WIPO Shanghai Center effectively addresses IP disputes. Pudong Court has refined citywide rules and provides litigation fee reductions to encourage enterprises to use professional mediation.
To enhance its capabilities, the court trains judges specialized in both domestic and international IP law; three judges joined the national pool of foreign-related IP experts, and the IP tribunal recently received the China Copyright Gold Award.
By November, Shanghai courts had mediated 121 foreign-related IP cases involving parties from 16 countries. WIPO acknowledged these practices, and officials state that the collaboration demonstrates mutual protection and transparency.
