Trade secrets play an important role in firm competitiveness and strategic positioning, especially for startups and in research and development–intensive industries. Firms should actively prevent unauthorized disclosures of trade secrets. In case of a theft, they may need to pursue enforcement. Protecting trade secrets is an ongoing challenge for companies doing business in the United States and the People’s Republic of China.
This event at United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, offered examination of enforcement avenues against trade secret misappropriation in China. This half-day hybrid program brought together experts on civil options and administrative enforcement, including representatives of China’s State Administration for Market Regulation, the Shanghai Administration for Market Regulation, and civil litigators from the private sector.
Panels examined the following topics, and took questions from the audience:
- Trade secret protection: Legislative work, government service, and administrative enforcement
- Civil enforcement against trade secret misappropriation: Investigation and evidence-gathering, role of private parties, case transfer, and case presentation
Agenda
Agenda subject to change
8:30–9:00 a.m. Registration and check-in
9–9:20 a.m. Welcome remarks
- Kathi Vidal, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office
- Sharon Israel, Chief Policy Officer and Director for International Affairs, USPTO (invited)
- YANG Hongfeng, Counsel of the Bureau of Price Supervision and Inspection and Anti-Unfair Competition, State Administration for Market Regulation
9:20–10:20 a.m. Trade secret protection: legislative work, government service, and administrative enforcement
Moderator:
- Michael Diehl, Senior Attorney, Office of Policy and International Affairs, USPTO
Speaker:
- XIN Qun, Director of Anti-Unfair Competition Enforcement Division, Bureau of Price Supervision and Inspection and Anti-Unfair Competition (SAMR)
[USPTO host to moderate Q&A for 20 minutes]
10:20–10:40 a.m. Break
10:40 a.m. – noon Civil enforcement against trade secret misappropriation: Investigation and evidence-gathering, role of private parties, case transfer, case presentation
Moderator:
- Michael Diehl, Senior Attorney, Office of Policy and International Affairs, USPTO
Speakers:
- Jerry Xia, Partner and Counsel, GEN Law Firm
- Victoria Cundiff, Chair, Sedona Conference Working Group 12, Trade Secrets
[USPTO host to moderate Q&A for 20 minutes]
Noon–12:10 p.m. Closing remarks
- Michael Diehl, Senior Attorney, Office of Policy and International Affairs, USPTO
Additional information
Presentations will be in English and Mandarin. Simultaneous interpretation will be available to all attendees. For more information, visit the registration page or email william.long@uspto.gov in the USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs (OPIA).
This program is organized by OPIA in collaboration with China’s State Administration for Market Regulation.
This program is hosted by the USPTO’s Global Intellectual Property Academy, a unit of OPIA. The office advises the administration and other federal government departments and agencies on domestic and international intellectual property (IP), legal, and policy issues. It also provides technical assistance and training on IP-related matters to U.S. stakeholders, and U.S. and foreign government officials.
Accessibility accommodation
If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please submit your request to the contact information listed above.