On April 16, 2026, the Shenzhen Center of International Arbitration (SCIA) organizes the “2026 World Intellectual Property Day” theme event at SCIA Tower, Qianhai, Shenzhen. Featuring “Trade Secret Protection in the Global Context”, the event gathers around 100 participants including IP experts, business representatives and legal practitioners from across the world.
Dr. Liu Xiaochun, SCIA President delivers the welcome remarks. Dr. Liu underscores the recent achievements of the organisation including the promulgation of the nation’s first “Guidance on Patent Dispute Arbitration Procedure”, the innovation in the mechanism involving patent granting examination and injunctive relief, as well as the conclusion of the first patent granting examination arbitration case in China.
Dr. Liu Xiaochun
Chen Qiaomei, Director of China (Shenzhen) Intellectual Property Center releases the SCIA’s 2025 annual work report and ten exemplary cases. She highlights the progress made in the front of case handling, innovation of rules, expertise building and governance, and the SCIA’s best practice in resolving disputes spanning hi-tech satellite delivery, database and algorithm, audio licensing, micro-drama as well as operational secrets of financial institutions.
Chen Qiaomei
The keynote speech centers on the international practice and Chinese routes in trade secret assertion. Winnie Tam, SC, SBS, JP, DES VOEUX CHAMBERS, David Mulder, Counsel, TaylorWessing and Song Jian, Ex- Presiding judge, Jiangsu High Court IP Tribunal share insights on the trade secret protection practice in Hong Kong, the European and American protection regime and the latest judicial trends and developments in mainland China.
Winnie Tam
David Mulder
Song Jian
Arbitrator Zheng Yinghao moderates the ensuing roundtable discussion. Fellow arbitrators and panelists Hu Shengtao, Jason Yao, Cheng Gang, Chen Gong and Wang Teng share practical takeaways and solutions on formulation of patent and trade secret strategy, oversea risk prevention and cross-border dispute resolution.
Roundtable discussion
Jason Yao
Jason Yao, Partner and Management Committee Member, Wanhuida Intellectual Property, outlines the trade secret protection status quo in China. He specifically advocates for the alleviation of the burden of proof of the right owner by admitting circumstantial evidence and the shifting the burden of proof to the defendant, where possible.
The event is concluded with a heated discussion over the arbitrability of trade secret infringement, punitive damages and other hot button issues.
The event, which is jointly undertaken by Shenzhen Nanshan District Innovation & Development Promotion Center, China (Shenzhen) Intellectual Property Center and South China International Arbitration Center HK, is well attended.