tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7923005810906159036.post5764440245739801135..comments2024-03-05T15:48:10.814+00:00Comments on IP finance: Will the ZTE Brand and Name Find its Field of Dreams Outside China?Anne Fairpohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579190868405783459noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7923005810906159036.post-83904731438938205362009-06-22T21:15:08.378+01:002009-06-22T21:15:08.378+01:00Ian,
My recollection is that Acer wanted to break...Ian,<br /><br />My recollection is that Acer wanted to break out of the Taiwan/contract manufacturer ranks in the 1990's but found it very difficult to build a brand, develop a distribution change, etc. No surprise--it were otherwise, more contract manufacturers would join the ranks of the higher value branded product purveyors.<br /><br />Rob,<br /><br />Other than Hua Wei, do we have any data on patent filing activity by Chinese companies when seeking to expand beyond their domestic market? Do they merely add to the patent thicket in the industry, or is there something special about the Chinese approach to patent filings outside of China?Neil Wilkofnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7923005810906159036.post-58176837389976750072009-06-22T05:21:15.852+01:002009-06-22T05:21:15.852+01:00I knew about ZTE before I read Neil's posts - ...I knew about ZTE before I read Neil's posts - I have had to look into some detail at their patent situation in another context. They are also the manufacturers of my 3G/UMTS modem USB stick - as the software continually reminds me (so that I am reminded that the Australian Telstra company did not actually make my product).<br /><br />I am also intrigued to know ZTE's patent licensing policy. Many of the Asian telecommunications companies have benefited from the lack of patent protection for the GSM system in most Asian countries. They have therefore not had to pay any licence fees (or at least not worried unduly about paying them). Now that the companies are moving west, their strategy of teaming up with the operators will probably also pay off. It seems to me that even if the operators do not benefit from a patent licence, it is going to be a brave patent holder who sues an operators which is also selling products produced by the licence holder.<br /><br />The future also seems intriguing. I don't know much about ZTE's current patent application filing policy. However their local Chinese competitor Hua Wei last year took the pole position for PCT filings. This suggests a much more active patent position in the future - and certainly a seat at the table in negotiating future patent licences.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02789591295998616170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7923005810906159036.post-44236070604407854862009-06-21T11:51:18.167+01:002009-06-21T11:51:18.167+01:00Interesting post, Neil.
Do you think Acer's e...Interesting post, Neil.<br /><br />Do you think Acer's experience actually supports strategy 2? Or did Acer find that their contract manufacture experience did not help them as well as hoped (hence the lack of success of their first stage effort) and that they ended up having to develop their own brand recognition, i.e. strategy 3?<br /><br />Surely "market share" applies to the branded product? Were this not the case, would the likes of HP not compromise their share of the laptop market by outsourcing to the likes of Quanta?<br /><br />Of course, contract manufacture will allow ZTE to develop the manufacturing know-how that will allow them to price their product very competitively as and when they launch their own brand.<br /><br />I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.Ian Hartwellhttp://www.iphartwell.comnoreply@blogger.com