Protect IP rights before going overseas, companies urged

Chinese companies with aspirations to go global should ensure their intellectual property rights are protected before expanding into overseas markets, a top IPR expert said.

Chen Hongbing, head of the World Intellectual Property Organization's China office, said that as more enterprises go out, it is essential they understand the laws and regulations in other countries to avoid patent disputes.

"China is on the edge of a historic transition," he said in an exclusive interview with China Daily. "With globalization and regional economic integration, the country's commodities, technologies, brands and capital are moving into overseas markets at a rapid pace.