1. Intellectual Property Protection Policy and Alleged Infringements

• This document outlines the policy (“Policy”) of Global Sources for handling notifications of alleged infringement of intellectual property rights (“IPR”) related to materials offered on the Global Sources website or servers (each such alleged infringement, an “Alleged Infringement”) submitted by visitors and users (“Users”) of this site.
  For the purposes of this Policy, “Global Sources” refers to the publisher and operator of this site, Publishers Representatives Limited (a company incorporated in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), and its parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, and associated companies.
• Global Sources has established these procedures to facilitate cooperation between Global Sources and its Users.
• Global Sources is neither an arbiter nor a court. In acting on any claim of infringement submitted by Users, Global Sources does not intend to make any determination regarding the validity or existence of such rights. Conversely, if Global Sources decides not to take any action regarding an Alleged Infringement, Global Sources does not endorse the inclusion of such materials on this site.

2. How We Handle Alleged Infringements

• The owner of the intellectual property right or their agent (the “Complainant”) may (and, at Global Sources' request, shall) complete and sign an Intellectual Property Complaint Notice in the form attached as Schedule 2 to notify Global Sources of an Alleged Infringement (the “IP Complaint Notice”).
• Global Sources shall process the IP Complaint Notice in accordance with the procedures set forth in Schedule 1 to this Agreement (the “Procedures”).
• Global Sources reserves the right to modify these Procedures at any time.
• If the Complainant fails to submit an IP Complaint Notice in the form specified in Schedule 2, or if the Notice is insufficient or incomplete, and/or fails to provide the required Related Information (as defined in Section 3.1 below), and/or if such information is insufficient or incomplete, and/or if the Complainant fails to comply with any of the Procedures set forth in Schedule 1, Global Sources reserves the right to take no further action with respect to the Alleged Infringement.

3. Information Required

• The Complainant shall provide to Global Sources all necessary documentation and other relevant information (“Related Information”) concerning the Alleged Infringement, including but not limited to:
  • Evidence demonstrating the Complainant’s ownership of the intellectual property rights alleged to have been infringed:
    - For copyright, this may include (if applicable) registration certificates, proof of authorship, evidence of first publication, and proof of ownership.
    - For trademark rights, this may include (if applicable) trademark registration certificates issued by the relevant authority in the applicable jurisdiction (as defined in Section 4 below) and other related documentation.
    - For patent rights, this may include (if applicable) patent grant certificates (including all relevant claims, specifications, and drawings) issued by the relevant authority in the applicable jurisdiction (as defined in Section 4 below) and any other relevant reports.
    - For registered design rights, this may include (if applicable) design registration certificates issued by the relevant authority in the applicable jurisdiction (as defined in Section 4 below).
    - Any other evidence that Global Sources may request in its sole discretion based on the facts and circumstances of the case.
  • Proof of the Complainant’s company formation or registration (if applicable).
  • Evidence of the Alleged Infringement, which may include but is not limited to website locations/links, photographs, samples, brochures, sales contracts, and invoices related to the allegedly infringing materials or activities.
  • Any final court judgments, orders, decrees, awards, or binding settlement agreements between the Complainant and the alleged infringer, in each case legally recognized in the relevant jurisdiction (as defined in Section 4 below), demonstrating that the materials or activities infringe the Complainant’s intellectual property rights.
  • Any other documents or information as Global Sources may reasonably require.

4. Relevant Jurisdictions

• For the purposes of this Policy, “Relevant Jurisdiction” means (i) the place where the Alleged Infringement occurred or may have occurred; (ii) the place of manufacture of the alleged infringing product; or (iii) the country/region where the alleged infringing product was advertised, offered for sale, or sold.

5. Indemnification

• Global Sources has no duty or obligation to verify the identity of any Complainant, the subject matter of the Complaint, or the source of the allegedly infringing materials.
• By submitting an IP Complaint Notice and requesting Global Sources to take action under this Policy, each Complainant agrees to:
  • Indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Global Sources and its agents, representatives, contractors, directors, officers, and employees (and their legal and other advisors and consultants) (collectively, the “Global Sources Indemnitees”) from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, actions, proceedings, judgments, fines, penalties, costs, and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising out of or relating to the IP Complaint Notice or the related supporting materials.
  • Not bring any legal action or claim against any Global Sources Indemnitee in connection with the IP Complaint Notice.
  • Acknowledge that the IP Complaint Notice and all supporting documents may be disclosed to the alleged infringer and confirm that the Complainant has read, understood, and agreed to the Global Sources Privacy Policy (available via the “Privacy Policy” link in the website footer), and, where applicable, has informed or will inform any relevant third parties of that policy.
  • Consent to Global Sources’ right to reproduce, use, disclose, and/or publish the IP Complaint Notice and any or all Related Information and supporting documents, or portions or extracts thereof, as Global Sources deems necessary or appropriate, including disclosures required by law or regulation, or to cooperate with regulatory or law enforcement authorities, or to protect or enforce Global Sources’ rights and/or interests.

Last Updated: March 10, 2025 Version 1.8