IPR China Helpdesk helps EU companies in the wine industry
Europe’s wineries are well positioned to capitalise on the growth of China’s wine industry. For example, Chinese consumers rely on European imports for 65% of its foreign wine trade.
Despite the opportunities in the Chinese market, EU companies need to be aware of the presence of fake wines and Intellectual Property (IP) issues they could face in China.
Experts in the field estimate that as many as one in three bottles of ‘foreign’ wine in China is fake. Even the best fakes fall far below the standards of quality which would be expected of European wines, damaging the reputation of European producers amongst Chinese consumers.
Due to a lack of understanding of Chinese IP rights, the European wine industry faces the task of tackling infringers or risk losing valuable ground in a rapidly developing market.
Chinese legislators have built a comprehensive legal framework around IPR protection and enforcement to help European wine businesses. The mechanisms for registration, protection and enforcement of intellectual property are accessible to European wine makers.
With Chinese counterfeit wines leaking to the West, it is crucial that producers act to stem the flow. The IP framework is established in China, European producers must work with local authorities to assert their rights in China.
If you are a European winemaker looking to do business in China, the China IP SME Helpdesk can help you to navigate your Intellectual Property Rights.
Find out more about IP in China here.
The China IP SME Helpdesk supports small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) from European Union (EU) member states to protect and enforce their Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in or relating to China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, through the provision of free information and services. The Helpdesk provides jargon-free, first-line, confidential advice on intellectual property and related issues, along with training events, materials and online resources. Individual SMEs and SME intermediaries can submit their IPR queries via email (question [at] china-iprhelpdesk.eu ()) and gain access to a panel of experts, in order to receive free and confidential first-line advice within 3 working days.
The China IP SME Helpdesk is an initiative by the European Union
