‍Register your trademarks in China: One of the first things you must do if you plan to manufacture in China is to register the related intellectual property rights — trademarks, design patents and copyrights — in that country.

In China, the first company to file a trademark is awarded that trademark; it does not matter if you have registered it outside that country. Thus, if a Chinese company registers your trademark in China because you have neglected to do so, your products will be at risk of being detained at ports for violating the “trademark” of that Chinese company.

This is why it is important to formally file for intellectual property protection in China before you do anything else such as signing agreements with your Chinese manufacturer. This is definitely cheaper than having to fight the infringers in court later, or having to pay them to give up their rights over your trademark they have registered as theirs.