On March 25, 2026, the inaugural Overseas Investment Fair featured a highly anticipated session: the "Special Seminar on Global IP Layout, Strategic Planning, Risk Early Warning and Rights Protection for Enterprises Going Global." Hosted at the Shanghai Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone by the Global Federation of Chambers of Commerce, the event brought together leading professional agencies and numerous expanding enterprises to foster practical connections and dialogue.
Xu Yingcong, Vice General Manager of Watson & Band Intellectual Property Agency Ltd., was invited to attend and deliver a keynote presentation. He provided corporate representatives with actionable insights into overseas intellectual property layout strategies and the optimal selection of IP service providers.
Mr. Xu opened his presentation by analyzing the core requirements for establishing an overseas IP presence. He introduced three guiding principles—prioritizing rights confirmation, maintaining a business-oriented focus, and coordinating overall resources—emphasizing that intellectual property must be deeply integrated into an enterprise's broader globalization strategy.
When discussing how to select IP service providers for overseas expansion, Mr. Xu outlined three common pathways:
Engaging directly with foreign firms.
Relying on domestic agencies and their international branches.
Utilizing a collaborative approach between domestic and international providers.
He advised companies to make rational, tailored choices based on their specific stage of corporate development.
Furthermore, Mr. Xu offered practical criteria for selecting domestic partner agencies, evaluating them across three dimensions: firm scale, fee structure, and foreign-related experience. He suggested that enterprises pay close attention to an agency's "bidirectional" case track record (handling both inbound and outbound matters) and the transparency of its financial models, ultimately assessing the firm's risk-resistance capabilities and service suitability.
As a leading professional agency deeply rooted in the intellectual property sector, Watson & Band is committed to providing comprehensive, high-quality IP services for Chinese enterprises expanding their global footprint.
With extensive experience in cross-border IP layouts, risk prevention, and resource integration, the firm remains dedicated to safeguarding international business ventures. Moving forward, Watson & Band will continue to leverage its professional strengths, actively participate in industry dialogues, and help more expanding enterprises build robust IP "moats" to ensure the steady and secure growth of their global operations.
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