Shock! Infringement in agency export of shoes may lead to a company's bankruptcy

In the vast ocean of international trade, the agency export business may seem like a convenient channel. However, there are many hidden reefs within. Today, we will focus on the thorny issue of "infringement in agency export of shoes" and uncover the many mysteries behind it.

In recent years, cases of infringement in agency export of shoes have been quite common. For example, Mr. Zhang exported a batch of shoes through Zhongshitong as an agent, hoping to successfully enter the international market, but unexpectedly got caught in an infringement whirlpool. The foreign brand owner accused the design of this batch of shoes of plagiarizing its classic style and sued Mr. Zhang and Zhongshitong to court.

The frequent occurrence of such incidents is, on the one hand, due to the weak awareness of intellectual property rights of some companies. In pursuit of profits, they blindly imitate the designs of well-known brands. On the other hand, the review process in the agency export is not strict enough, and the infringement risks cannot be effectively identified. Although Zhongshitong is the agent, it also shoulders certain review responsibilities in the export process.

Once the shoes in agency export are determined to be infringing, the consequences are disastrous. For the principal like Mr. Zhang, he may face huge economic compensation, which will not only destroy years of business achievements but may even lead to the bankruptcy of the company. At the same time, the company's reputation will also be severely damaged, and it will lose the trust of consumers in the market.

For the agent Zhongshitong, it also faces legal liability and reputation damage. Legally, it may be jointly liable with the principal. After the reputation is damaged, other potential customers may have doubts about its agency services, thus affecting business expansion.

To avoid getting stuck in the quagmire of infringement in agency export of shoes, all parties need to take effective measures. First of all, the principal should strengthen intellectual property management at the source. During the product design stage, focus on independent innovation, establish a sound intellectual property protection system, and promptly apply for patents or register trademarks for design results.

Secondly, the agent Zhongshitong should strengthen the review process. For the shoes commissioned for export, not only should relevant brand authorization documents be reviewed, but also the appearance, trademarks, etc. of the products should be carefully compared. If necessary, professional intellectual property agencies can be used for evaluation.

In addition, industry associations and government departments should also play an active role. Industry associations can organize intellectual property training to improve the legal awareness of enterprises. Government departments should strengthen supervision, severely crack down on infringement, and create a healthy market environment.

The issue of infringement in agency export of shoes is like a hanging Sword of Damocles, constantly threatening the development of enterprises. Whether it is the principal or the agent, they should be highly vigilant, strictly abide by laws and regulations in business activities, and pay attention to intellectual property protection. Only in this way can they move forward steadily in the tide of international trade and avoid being devastated by infringement. It is hoped that enterprises can learn lessons from these cases, take active actions, and jointly maintain a fair and orderly market order.