Help & FAQ / IP Policy
To report an Intellectual Property (IP) infringement, kindly read the following GLOBAL SOURCES INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS PROTECTION POLICY and complete and sign the relevant form.
Intellectual Property Rights Protection Policy and Alleged Infringements
This document outlines Global Sources’ policy (“Policy”) for dealing with notifications of alleged infringements of intellectual property rights (“IPR”), in relation to materials available on Global Sources’ websites or servers (each such alleged infringement, an “Alleged Infringement”), by visitors and users of this website (“Users”).
For the purposes of this Policy, “Global Sources” means the publisher and operator of this website, Publishers Representatives Limited (a company incorporated in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) and its parents, subsidiaries, related corporations and affiliates, collectively.
Global Sources has established these procedures to facilitate the co-operation between Global Sources and Users.
Global Sources is not an arbiter or judge. In carrying out any action instigated by Users in respect of IPR, Global Sources does not intend to make any decisions on whether such IPR are valid and subsisting. Conversely, should Global Sources decide not to carry out any action in respect of an Alleged Infringement, Global Sources is not endorsing the display of such materials on this website.
Our Handling of Alleged Infringement
An IPR owner or the agent thereof (the “Complainant”) may (and shall, if requested by Global Sources) complete and sign the IP Complaint Notice in the form attached in Schedule 2 to notify Global Sources of the Alleged Infringement (the “IP Complaint Notice”).
Global Sources shall deal with the IP Complaint Notice in accordance with the procedures as set out in Schedule 1 hereto (the "Procedures").
Global Sources reserves the right to amend the Procedures from time to time.
Global Sources reserves the right not to take any further action in respect of the Alleged Infringement if the IP Complaint Notice as prescribed in Schedule 2 is not submitted, is insufficient or is incomplete, and/or the Relevant Information (as defined in Clause 3.1 below) is not provided as required or is insufficient or is incomplete, and/or any of the Procedures stipulated in Schedule 1 are not complied with by the Complainant.
Relevant Information
The Complainant shall provide Global Sources with all the necessary documentation and other relevant information in respect of the Alleged Infringement (the “Relevant Information”), including, inter alia:
Evidence of the Complainant's ownership of the IPR which is being relied upon and alleged to have been infringed:
In the case of copyright, this would include (where applicable): registration certificates, and evidence of the original creation, initial publication and the Complainant's ownership of the copyright concerned.
In the case of trademark rights, this would include (where applicable): the certificate of trademark registration and other relevant documents issued by the applicable authorities in the Relevant Territory (as defined in Clause 4 below) relating to the trademark rights concerned.
In the case of patent rights, this would include (where applicable): the certificate of patent grant (complete with all relevant claims, specifications and drawings), and other relevant reports, issued by the applicable authorities in the Relevant Territory (as defined in Clause 4 below) relating to the patent rights concerned.
In the case of registered design rights, this would include (where applicable): certificate of registration of design issued by the applicable authorities in the Relevant Territory (as defined in Clause 4 below) relating to the registered design rights concerned.
Any other evidence that Global Sources may require depending on the specific facts and circumstances of the case. For the avoidance of doubt, Global Sources shall have the sole and absolute discretion to determine what shall constitute appropriate evidence of the Complainant's ownership of the IPR concerned.
Certificate of due incorporation or registration of the Complainant company (where applicable).
Evidence of the infringement complained of in the IP Complaint Notice including, but not limited to, website locations/links, photographs, samples, brochures, sales contracts and invoices relating to the allegedly infringing material or activity concerned.
Any final court or arbitration judgment, order, decision or award against or any binding settlement with the alleged infringer (“Alleged Infringer”) in relation to the subject matter complained of, and/or (if applicable and available) any other legally valid and binding evidence, in each case either originating from or legally recognised in the Relevant Territory (as defined in Clause 4 below), evidencing that the relevant material or activities concerned have infringed the Complainant's IPR.
Such other relevant documents and information as Global Sources may require.
Relevant Territory
For the purpose of this Policy, "Relevant Territory" shall mean the country / region where (i) the Alleged Infringement takes place or is likely to take place; (ii) the allegedly infringing products are manufactured; or (iii) the allegedly infringing products are advertised, offered or sold.
Indemnity
Global Sources does not have the power or duty to verify the identities of each individual Complainant submitting an IP Complaint Notice, the subject matter complained of or the source of the allegedly infringing material.
By submitting an IP Complaint Notice and asking Global Sources to take action in accordance with this Policy in respect of the Alleged Infringement, each individual Complainant submitting the IP Complaint Notice agrees:
to hold harmless, defend and fully indemnify Global Sources and its agents, representatives, contractors, directors, officers and employees (as well as their legal and other advisors and consultants) (collectively, the “Global Sources Indemnitees”) from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, suits, actions, proceedings, judgments, fines, penalties, costs and expenses (including legal fees and expenses), of any nature whatsoever, incurred or suffered by any of them however arising from or in connection with any action that the Global Sources Indemnitees may take pursuant to the IP Complaint Notice;
that such individual Complainant submitting the IP Complaint Notice will not take any legal action and/or make any claim against any of the Global Sources Indemnitees in respect of any matters related to the IP Complaint Notice;
that the IP Complaint Notice and all the supporting documents may be disclosed to the parties complained of and acknowledge that such individual Complainant submitting the IP Complaint Notice has read, understood, accepted and agreed to Global Sources’ Privacy Policy relating to this website (which is accessible through the “Privacy Policy” link in the footer of this website) and where appropriate, has referred or will direct relevant third parties to such Privacy Policy; and
that the IP Complaint Notice and any or all of the Relevant Information and other supporting documents and information provided (or any portions or extracts thereof) may be reproduced, used, disclosed and/or published by Global Sources in the manner and to the extent deemed necessary or appropriate by Global Sources. Specifically (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing), Global Sources reserves the right to disclose any information contained in the IP Complaint Notice, or any Relevant Information or other supporting documents and information provided, in circumstances where Global Sources believes that disclosure is required under any law or regulation, or to cooperate with regulators or law enforcement authorities, or to protect or enforce Global Sources’ rights and/or interests.