The People’s Republic of China has been among the top destinations for Mid-Atlantic exports in recent years. But entrepreneurs and commercial owners doing business in or with China may find that their valuable intellectual property (IP) is being infringed there. Even businesses not operating in China may find counterfeit versions of their products in China or the United States, or may discover their trademarks registered in China without their knowledge.
Join us on April 16, 2026, virtually or in person at USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, for a program about protecting and enforcing your intellectual property in China and the United States. Hear from U.S. government experts, IP attorneys, and local businesspeople as they share their insights on how U.S. rights holders can protect and enforce their IP in both countries.
Topics include:
- IP developments in China: Challenges and opportunities in a shifting IP environment
- Enforcing IP rights in the United States against Chinese infringement
- IP and China: The Mid-Atlantic perspective
Business owners in the Mid-Atlantic region who are new to conducting business in or with China will benefit from this program, which provides basic knowledge needed to develop an effective IP strategy.
Agenda
A preliminary agenda is available below.
| Time | Agenda item |
|---|---|
| 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. | Registration |
| 9:00 – 9:10 a.m. | Opening remarks |
| 9:10 – 9:30 a.m. | IP developments in China: Challenges and opportunities in a shifting IP environment |
| 9:30 – 10:20 a.m. | Topic 1: Securing IP rights and enforcement options in China |
| 10:20 – 10:30 a.m. | Coffee/tea break |
| 10:30 – 11:15 a.m. | Topic 2: IP enforcement and e-commerce in China |
| 11:15 a.m. to noon | Topic 3: U.S. export controls and their effects on U.S. rights holders |
| Noon – 1:00 p.m. | Networking lunch |
| 1:00 – 2:15 p.m. | Topic 4: Civil and criminal IP rights enforcement in the United States |
| 2:15 – 3:00 p.m. | Topic 5: IP and China: The Mid-Atlantic perspective |
| 3:00 – 3:05 p.m. | Closing remarks |
Additional information
For more information, visit the registration page or contact Lakeshia Harley in the USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs.
The program is one of a series of China IP Road Shows that the USPTO conducts across the country. For more information about the series, visit the China IP Road Show webpage.
Accessibility accommodation
If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please submit your request to the contact information listed above.