How Does One Choose A Franchise To Embark On?
By G. Yeshanthan Nair Feeling overwhelmed about choosing the right franchise? You’re not alone. With hundreds of brands, multiple industries, and outlet types to choose from — from trendy kiosks to full-scale stores, deciding where to begin can feel like standing at a massive crossroads. Should you jump into F&B, invest in education, or ride […]
Franchise or Licence Agreement?
By G. Yeshanthan Nair Franchising business is often confused with the concept of licensing, which is a common alternative method used by many business owners as both concepts share some similarities with very minimal differences. The confusion occurs as both the concepts grant rights to the other party in exchange for a fee or other […]
Are Myanmar’s Businesses Leaving Their Designs Unprotected?
By Khin Yupar As Myanmar continues its journey toward a modernized economy, many businesses are still navigating unfamiliar terrain when it comes to intellectual property (IP) rights. Despite Myanmar’s developing legal framework, design protection remains underutilized, especially among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Key Takeaways Design protection in Myanmar is still underutilized, with many SMEs […]
Inside FIM2025: What Malaysia’s Biggest Franchise Event Reveals About the Future of Business
Franchising in Malaysia is not just surviving, it is evolving. And nowhere was this more obvious than at Franchise International Malaysia (FIM) 2025, the country’s biggest stage for franchise opportunities, organised by the Malaysian Franchise Association (MFA) and KUSKOP. Key Takeaways Franchising in Malaysia is evolving rapidly, with FIM2025 showcasing bold concepts in F&B, education, […]
Trademark Filings in ASEAN: A Five-Year Outlook (2020–2024)
In the last five years, trademark activity across ASEAN has painted a fascinating picture of how businesses and brands are expanding their presence in one of the world’s most dynamic regions. From Indonesia’s booming numbers to Malaysia’s steady climb, the filing data tells a story of ambition, growth, and resilience. At KASS International, we’ve had […]
KASS International is Now on Xiaohongshu: A New Chapter in Making IP More Accessible
At KASS, we’ve always believed that Intellectual Property (IP) shouldn’t be locked behind legal jargon or seen as something only for large corporations. The truth is, IP is for everyone — from solo entrepreneurs and startups to family businesses and global brands. And now, we’re taking that message to a new platform. We’ve officially launched […]
Intern Spotlight: Stephanie’s Cross-Jurisdictional Internship Experience
Meet Stephanie, currently a second-year Juris Doctor (JD) student at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, she joined KASS to deepen her understanding of intellectual property law through a truly regional lens. With prior experience in domain infringement and trademark filings, she saw KASS’s footprint across ASEAN and beyond as the perfect training ground to […]
KASS International Joins the 15th China International Trademark & Brand Festival 2025 in Taiyuan
This September, KASS International is proud to be part of one of Asia’s most influential gatherings in intellectual property. Our Business Development Representatives, Danny Ching and Shee Man, will attend the 15th China International Trademark & Brand Festival (CTF 2025) taking place from 5 to 8 September 2025 in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China Key Takeaways […]
Intern Spotlight: From Curiosity to Growth – Inès’s Internship Story at KASS
Curiosity led me to explore a field I had never experienced before, and my internship at KASS has turned out to be a truly valuable journey. As a first‑year International Trade student, I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and immerse myself in a new professional and cultural environment — and Malaysia has […]
以自有品牌产品或服务开拓海外市场
在异国他乡创业或经营业务绝非易事，尤其是当企业打算在该国建立和推广自身品牌时。企业需要考虑诸多方面因素，从运营成本到当地习俗，甚至包括该国的语言。 在一个国家建立并保障公司的商标和品牌权益时，语言方面的考量尤为重要。公司应始终检查当地消费者可能使用的商标语言，其正确的翻译以及采用该国当地商标文本的商业影响。由于未能充分重视这一点，尤其是在实行“先申请”商标注册制度的国家，许多企业往往不幸沦为“商标抢注者”和“仿冒者”的目标，进而丧失对其商标这一重要资产的合法权利。一个典型的案例是，法国知名高级时装品牌爱马仕（Hermès）近期与一家位于广东省的中国公司—达丰制衣公司（Dafeng Garment Factory）发生的商标权争议。 中国目前是全球增长最快的市场之一，多年来为众多国际企业提供了进入中国市场及拓展业务的广阔机遇。同时，中国也是实施商标注册“先申请”原则的国家之一。 爱马仕于 1837 年创立，在实现全球战略的过程中，该公司意识到在中国保护其品牌的重要性，并于 1977 年成功注册了其英文商标的音译“埃尔梅斯”（读音为“Āiĕrméisī”，在中文中无实际意义）。然而，他们却忽略了注册“爱马仕”（读音为“Àimăshì”，意为“爱马的官员”），这是当地消费者用来识别该品牌的中文商标的常用版本。虽然这看似微不足道，但似乎由于当地消费者使用中文标识的频率高于英文标识（可能是因为中文标识对他们来说更容易发音），因此在本地打造品牌的过程中，中文标识最终会具有与原标识同等甚至更高的价值和意义。 1995 年，广东一家名为达丰服装厂的中国公司成功提交了“爱玛仕”的商标申请，这个名称与前面提到的“爱马仕”仅在“马”字上多了一笔，意为“喜爱玛瑙（宝石）的官员”，这对爱马仕来说很不幸。 当爱马仕意识到这一点时，他们试图撤销该商标的注册，并于 1997 年向商标评审委员会（TRAB，Trademark Review and Adjudication Board）提出申诉，但未获成功，达丰的商标于 2001 年正式注册。2008 年，爱马仕再次尝试向商标评审委员会提出争议撤销申请，但遭到驳回。随后在 2011 年，其就该决定向北京市第一中级人民法院提起上诉。近期法院作出判决，爱马仕再次败诉。 据说，爱马仕至今未能成功反对和撤销达丰商标的主要原因在于，其无法证明未注册的中文商标版本在达丰申请之前已具有驰名声誉，或证明其在达丰申请之前已实际使用该中文商标。法院和商标评审委员会认定，尽管爱马仕于 1977 年注册了英文商标，但这仍不足以阻止他人合法申请注册未注册中文版本的变体商标。 由此可见，对于任何打算在海外开拓业务的企业而言，充分考虑目标国家的当地习俗和语言至关重要。在类似中国这样采用“先申请”商标注册制度的国家，企业应审慎核查商标在该国所有相关语言中的可用性，必要时对相关商标进行全面注册。正如本案例所示，即便对于已具备全球知名度的品牌而言，若未能及时进行本地化商标注册，其权利保障亦将面临重大挑战。