Zhiheng DynamicsShu Zhiheng Guangzhou Intellectual Property Professional Committee Inaugural Conference and Lawyer Zhang Jianqin's "Guide to Trade Secret Rights Protection - Dilemma and Way Out" (Law Press) New Book Launch Conference Was Successfully Held
On the afternoon of August 22, 2024, the Intellectual Property Professional Committee of Zhiheng (Guangzhou) Law Firm (hereinafter referred to as “Zhiheng Guangzhou”) was officially established. At the same time, Attorney Zhang Jianqin’s new book, “A Guide to Protecting Trade Secrets: Challenges and Solutions,” was officially launched. The establishment of the Intellectual Property Professional Committee is an important initiative by Zhiheng (Guangzhou) Law Firm to respond to the national intellectual property strategy and support the development of new-quality productive forces.
The establishment of the Intellectual Property Professional Committee not only marks a solid step forward in Zhicheng (Guangzhou) Law Firm’s drive toward specialization, but also underscores its strategic and long-term planning in the field of intellectual property legal services.
Host Ms. Cong Fang
Law Firm Introduction
Guangzhou HR Director of Zhiheng
Ye Shiru
At the outset of the meeting, Ye Shiru, HR Director of Zhiheng Guangzhou, introduced to the attendees the development history of
, its areas of expertise, and its goals for advancing professional specialization.
Speech
Director of the Guangzhou Steering Committee of Zhiheng
An Jianxu
Subsequently, An Jianshu, Director of the Guangzhou Management Committee of Zhiheng and Director of the Center for Major, Complex, and Difficult Cases, delivered a speech at the inaugural meeting and new-book launch event. Director An Jianxu first extended a warm welcome to the attending guests and briefly outlined the background and significance of the establishment of the Intellectual Property Professional Committee.
He emphasized that, with the rapid advancement of economic globalization and the knowledge economy, intellectual property has become a core driver of corporate competitiveness; protecting intellectual property is tantamount to safeguarding innovation and fostering economic development. With the official establishment of the Intellectual Property Professional Committee of Zhiheng Guangzhou Office, Zhiheng Guangzhou will adopt a more professional approach to contribute to the protection and development of intellectual property, helping enterprises and individuals advance steadily and far on the path of innovation.
Presenting the appointment letters to the expert consultants.
Director An Jianshu presented letters of appointment as consultants to Zhao Jun (Deputy General Manager of Zhizhuan Beidou, Doctor of Law), Sun Changjiang (Assistant Director of the Technology Transfer Center at Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Master’s in Vehicle Engineering from Beijing Jiaotong University), Wu Yuxiang (Partner at Guangdong Hongmian Law Firm, Legal Advisor to the Guangdong Security Association, and Special Legal Expert on the Expert Committee of the Guangzhou Security Association), Feng Junjie (Partner Attorney at Guangdong Fazhi Shengbang Law Firm, Patent Attorney, expert nominated by the World Intellectual Property Organization, member of the Guangzhou Intellectual Property Expert Pool, and leading talent in foreign-related legal practice in Guangzhou), Guo Shuai (Patent Attorney, Senior Intellectual Property Professional, member of the Guangzhou Intellectual Property Rights Protection Expert Pool, and Technical Investigator for Administrative Protection of Intellectual Property in Guangdong Province), Guan Jiawen (Senior Equity Partner at Zhiheng Headquarters), and Cong Fang (Head of Beijing Jingzhou Intellectual Property Service Center Co., Ltd., and Judicial Appraiser in Intellectual Property).
Zhao Jun and Guo Shuai participated online in the inaugural meeting and the new-book launch, congratulating the establishment of the Intellectual Property Professional Committee and offering their commentary on “A Guide to Protecting Trade Secrets: Challenges and Solutions.” They expressed their best wishes for the committee’s continued success, with its professional standards and influence steadily rising. The special committee’s advisors, Wu Yuxiang, Sun Changjiang, and Feng Junjie, delivered on-site remarks and offered valuable suggestions for the committee’s development.
Left photo: Director An Jianshu presents Feng Junjie with a letter of appointment as an expert consultant.
Right image: Director An Jianshu presents Wu Yuxiang with a letter of appointment as an expert consultant.
Left photo: Director An Jianshu presents Sun Changjiang with a letter of appointment as an expert consultant.
Right image: Director An Jianshu presents Cong Fang with the letter of appointment as an expert consultant.
Unveiling Ceremony
Presentation of Appointment Letters and Inaugural Remarks
Director of the Guangzhou Intellectual Property Professional Committee of Zhiheng Lawyer Zhang Jianqin
Attorney Zhang Jianqin, Director of the Intellectual Property Professional Committee, introduced the committee’s organizational structure and principal functions. The committee comprises a number of senior lawyers and industry experts, and is dedicated to providing clients with comprehensive intellectual property legal services, including, but not limited to, consulting, litigation, and dispute resolution in areas such as patents, trademarks, copyright, and trade secrets.
Meanwhile, at this conference, Attorney Zhang Jianqin’s new book, “A Guide to Protecting Trade Secrets: Challenges and Solutions,” was officially launched. This book is the culmination of Attorney Zhang’s many years of practical experience in intellectual property rights enforcement. It elucidates the essence of trade secrets, explores the criteria for determining “not generally known” and “identity,” and addresses the challenges of identifying key confidential elements, gathering evidence, presenting proof, and constructing legal arguments.
At the press conference, Attorney Zhang stated that he hopes this book will help businesses and individuals better understand and effectively utilize trade secrets, thereby safeguarding companies’ innovative achievements.
Director An Jianxu of the Management Committee presented a letter of appointment to Attorney Zhang Jianqin, Chair of the Special Committee.
Left photo: Chairman Zhang Jianqin of the Special Committee presents an appointment letter to Vice Chairman Attorney Chen Pengqi.
Right figure: Director Zhang Jianqin of the Special Committee presents an appointment letter to Vice Director Sun Cong, attorney.
Left photo: Chairman Zhang Jianqin of the Special Committee presents an appointment letter to Attorney Han Siyuan, Secretary-General of the Special Committee.
Right: Chairman Zhang Jianqin of the Special Committee presents an appointment letter to Attorney Liao Yunyong, Deputy Secretary-General of the Special Committee.
Special Lecture
Former member of the Judicial Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial Higher People’s Court, Deputy Inspector,
Judge Song Jian, Presiding Judge of the Intellectual Property Court
Judge Song Jian, drawing on his profound legal expertise and extensive trial experience, delivered a compelling presentation to his colleagues in the legal profession titled “Offensive and Defensive Strategies in Trade‑Secret Litigation and the Genesis of Landmark Cases.” In this presentation, Judge Song thoroughly analyzed the characteristics and challenges of trade‑secret litigation, and, drawing on real‑world cases, elaborated in detail on the importance of encouraging both plaintiffs and defendants to actively participate in the proceedings under the framework of Article
32of the Anti‑Unfair Competition Law.
She particularly emphasized that the essence of litigation lies in presenting and evaluating evidence; therefore, both plaintiffs and defendants should, in accordance with Article 32 of the Anti-Unfair Competition Law and the Rules on Evidence, actively seize the initiative in the dynamic interplay between assertion and rebuttal by submitting evidence, challenging the opposing party’s evidence, and even offering counter-evidence. She also emphasized that, under the current judicial policy of stringent protection of trade secrets, defendants who adopt an ostrich-like strategy in litigation—such as withholding evidence—may face adverse legal consequences as a result.
Judge Song’s lecture not only provided legal practitioners with invaluable practical guidance but also offered an in-depth analysis of the legal framework for the protection of trade secrets, delivering to the audience a feast of intellectual insights.
Former Director and Researcher of the Intellectual Property Development Research Center of the National Intellectual Property Administration,
Director Han Xiucheng, a recipient of the State Council Special Allowance
Director Han Xiucheng possesses unique insights and extensive practical experience in the field of intellectual property. Director Han Xiucheng delivered a presentation titled “Reflections on Several Issues in the Rapid Development of Intellectual Property.” He emphasized that, while fully acknowledging the achievements made, responsible IP professionals and scholars of law and policy should also prioritize identifying the key challenges facing the development of our field. These include issues such as cultivating high-value patents, ensuring the proper alignment of policy indicators for high-value patents, addressing problems in patent commercialization and operations, formulating effective strategies for patent protection and trade‑secret protection, and tackling prominent obstacles in the international strategic deployment of technologies with significant domestic and global market potential. He offered profound insights and proposed recommendations to underscore the importance of identifying and resolving these issues.
Doctor of Laws, dual Master’s degrees in Law and Biology, Master of Laws from Temple University (USA),
Zhao Jun, current Deputy General Manager of Zhizhuan Beidou
Dr. Zhao Jun is highly regarded in the field of intellectual property management, and his keynote lecture on “Building a Corporate Trade Secret Management System and Protecting High-Value Patent Portfolios” has provided the industry with profound insights. During the lecture, Dr. Zhao first outlined the pivotal role of trade secrets in safeguarding a company’s competitive edge, and then delved into how to establish an effective trade‑secret management system to ensure the security of the company’s key technological innovations.
He emphasized the importance of a combined approach to protecting patents and trade secrets, as well as the critical role of confidentiality agreements, internal control processes, and employee training within the overall system. Dr. Zhao further explored the identification, cultivation, and protection strategies for the boundaries between high-value patents and trade secrets, highlighting how companies can leverage a portfolio of trade secrets and patents to enhance their market competitiveness and defensive capabilities.
Drawing on real-world case studies, he analyzed best practices for the integrated strategic layout, protection, and management of trade secrets and patents, providing the audience with a comprehensive framework for building a robust trade secret system and helping companies achieve strategic growth in the intellectual property domain.
Group Photo
The inaugural meeting of the Guangzhou Intellectual Property Professional Committee of Zhiheng, along with the launch event for the new book “A Guide to Protecting Trade Secrets: Challenges and Solutions” and a high-profile lecture, concluded successfully to warm applause. Looking ahead, Zhiheng Guangzhou Law Firm will take the establishment of its Intellectual Property Committee as an opportunity to further strengthen its specialized team, enhance its service capabilities, and provide clients with more professional, efficient, and comprehensive intellectual property legal services.
At the same time, we will also actively fulfill our social responsibilities by conducting various public welfare activities to promote knowledge of intellectual property law and enhance societal awareness of intellectual property protection.
Contributed by | Zhou Yanhong, Department of Culture and Publicity
Reviewed by: Attorneys Zhang Jianqin and Chen Renhao
Layout | Zhou Yanhong, Department of Culture and Publicity