China has approved 487 new artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that can be used for deepfake technologies. These approvals pertain to products from leading Chinese technology companies such as Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent, as well as foreign firms like Hewlett-Packard. The list, the second largest since the relevant regulation came into effect in January 2023, was ..read more

Given the declining Chinese economy, politically induced increasing uncertainty, and the decoupling of IP systems between China and the West, the use of Legal Tech in the field of intellectual property often proves to be a significant advantage for companies. Legal Tech not only reduces costs, increases efficiency, and speeds up processes, but it also ..read more

The use of AI by cyber attackers intensifies the threat landscape, particularly concerning China. New tactics, increased complexity of attacks, and lower entry barriers raise the likelihood of attacks. Attacks on login credentials, cloud infrastructures, and shorter breakout times demand faster responses. AI-based systems offer immense advantages in detecting and defending against cyber attacks. Tools ..read more

The tech-decoupling driven by geopolitical factors, economic weakness within the country, and efforts to enhance China’s international competitiveness will lead to an increase in Chinese industrial espionage against Western companies and scientific institutions – particularly in Germany. China feels compelled to move up the value chain, create new growth drivers through innovation, and achieve technological ..read more

China is emerging as a leading player in many areas of AI. This was demonstrated by the recent World AI Conference 2024 held in Shanghai, where the latest advancements in AI technology were showcased, including the large language model Novel 5.5. The Asian country continues to cooperate intensively with the USA in this field. According to a report by Stanford University, the number of AI research collaborations between the USA and China has quadrupled over the past decade despite geopolitical tensions. Globally, China is on the fast track. In 2023, the nation fostered over 47% of the world’s A ..read more

In China, there are a number of restrictions on the registration of trademarks. Their purpose is to protect public order, national symbols and international agreements as well as to prevent discriminatory or misleading trademarks. Trademarks that are identical or similar to the names, flags or emblems of countries or national and international organizations are not eligible for registration – unless the express consent of the government or organization concerned has been obtained. Trademarks that are racially discriminatory or violate socialist morals are also not registrable. In addition, geo ..read more

China is putting pressure on the implementation of its compliance rules regarding cyber security and data protection. With immediate effect, companies that violate the legal requirements for cyber security and data protection will be recorded and disclosed in the Corporate Social Credit System (CSCS). This applies, for example, to the mandatory certification of network-connected IT systems as part of the Multi-Level Protection Scheme (MLPS 2.0), compliance with the rules on cross-border data traffic or the data protection impact assessment for the transfer of personal data through the Personal ..read more

On February 26, the Internet Court in Guangzhou issued a landmark ruling regarding generative AI services that infringe on third-party copyrights. A platform for Artificial Intelligence Generated Content (AIGC), which was not named, was found guilty of having produced an image resembling the well-known comic character Ultraman. The copyright owner, Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd., signed an authorization agreement with the plaintiff, Shanghai Xinchuanghua Culture Development Co., Ltd., transferring the exclusive copyright of the Ultraman series images to the plaintiff and granting them the rig ..read more

With the growth of the Metaverse, a new arena for crime is emerging – Metacrime. Companies can be affected in different ways. In collaboration, attackers can intercept, manipulate, delete, or inject data undetected through man-in-the-middle attacks by eavesdropping and spying. They can use deepfake technologies to imitate real people and use fake avatars for illegal activities. By stealing virtual identities, they can gain unauthorized access to virtual assets, conduct criminal transactions, or use token systems for fraud. Intellectual property involves the misuse of protected trademarks, desi ..read more

The virtual space opens up completely new ways for companies in China to communicate, but it also requires a deep understanding of the cultural nuances that shape interactions. There are many critical factors that influence success in this environment – from the choice of avatar attire to the meaning of numbers and colors.  Avatar clothing plays a key role in Chinese virtual reality (VR) culture. For example, the preference for conservative and formal clothing reflects traditional values. Dark colors such as black, blue and red are not only stylish, but also carry a symbolic meaning. Blac ..read more