Foreign inventors often approach China too early. These real-world questions can help separate a serious manufacturing project from an idea that is still not ready.
Real client inquiries show that inventors often say they want licensing in China when what they really need is a clearer manufacturing or validation path.
Many inventors assume that owning a patent means China licensing should be possible. Real client requests show why market reality is more demanding.
Real messages from inventors show why many projects are too early for China licensing, and what should happen before partner outreach begins.
Most foreign companies discover their China IP problem after it becomes a crisis. Peter Lin explains how the IP之道 framework — built around NNN agreements, trademark registration, and contract localisation — protects your supply chain before production starts.
Sarah had 31 months from her priority date and a PCT application that hadn't been reviewed for Chinese-specific risk. Peter Lin walks through the 45 days they worked together — and the four lessons every foreign inventor should take from it.
One inventor ignored China entirely. Another wanted to file everywhere at once. Peter Lin explains why both instincts fall short — and what a strategic approach to China patent protection actually looks like.
A founder building an exoskeleton asked: "We have a working prototype. How do we take this into China — and eventually into hospitals?" Here are the three things that matter most on that path.
As I sit on a high‑speed train to Xiamen to meet with clients, I’m writing this post because I’ve been getting the same question lately from international founders: “How can I protect my idea in China before it’s even ready for market?” In the U.S., many startups rely on a provisional patent application. It’s like a placeholder that locks in your filing date for 12 months while you refine your product. It’s affordable, flexible and gives you breathing room to perfect your design. But China plays by different rules. There is no provisional system. So what can you do? The answer lies in a unique strategy: filing a utility‑model patent and an invention patent at the same time.
My advice? Research 3-5 target sellers in your product category. Reach out with a tailored, value-first message (they care about profits & uniqueness). Protect your idea before sharing — especially in China’s first-to-file system. Be open to small trial orders to build trust. Think partnerships, not pitches.
When a hardware project goes live on Kickstarter, two things can happen: You go viral. Your copycats go viral before you.
WIPO's 2025 IP facts show China filed 49.1% of the world's patents. But what does that dominance actually mean for your IP strategy?
Peter Lin co-authored IP之道 to bridge the gap between IP theory and real business strategy. Here's how that philosophy became China IP Gateway.
