Intellectual Property: Protecting Your Designs at the Fair

You have a unique design. You show it to a factory. Three months later, it's on Amazon for half price.

Welcome to Sourcing. Here is how to fight back.

1. The NNN Agreement (Not NDA)

A standard Western NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) is useless in China. You need an NNN Agreement (Non-Use, Non-Disclosure, Non-Circumvention), written in Chinese, enforceable in a Chinese court.

2. Register Your IP in China

Trademarks are territorial. Your US Trademark means nothing in Guangzhou. Register your brand in China BEFORE you come to the fair.

• Cost: ~$500.
• Benefit: Allows you to seize counterfeit goods at the border.

3. "Black Box" Manufacturing

Don't give the full blueprint to one factory.

• Have Factory A make the shell.
• Have Factory B make the circuit board.
• Have Factory C do the final assembly and packaging.
• Result: No single factory knows how to make your full product.

Reality Check

If your product is simple (like a garlic press), it WILL be copied. Speed to market is your best protection.