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.
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.
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.
