AboutMichael A. Zakkour Expertise I can answer questions about manufacturing and sourcing products in China, including design, engineering, quality control, factory auditing, packaging, shipping and customs clearance.
I can also answer questions about Chinese culture, cross-cultural training and understanding, China business culture and etiquette.
I can also answer questions about developing branding and marketing and sales plans for your off the shelf or OEM products.
Experience President of China BrightStar, LLC a Sino-American manufacturing, sourcing and consulting company. Offices and factories in Beijing, Guangzhou, Ningbo and New York.
Organizations China Institute
Asia Scoiety
Publications National magazines and newspapers.
Education/Credentials B.A. in Communications
B.A. in Marketing
Seton Hall University, South Orange New Jersey
Awards and Honors Guest lecturer at Wharton School of Business at UPENN, Broad School of Business at Michigan State University, New York University's Stern School of Business
Past/Present Clients JC Penney, Philip Morris, Wal-Mart and a host of small, mid size and Fortune 1000 companies.
Question If I supply to a Chinese manufacturer my own clothing designs for fabricating my clothing item, and we sign a Non-disclosure Agreement, what legal recourse do I have here in the U.S.A. to stop competitor sales if I start seeing suspiciously similar garments popping up from retailers who bought "stolen-concept" knockoffs items from China that seem to be based on my idea?
Answer Hello William. This is a good question.
With the NDA alone you have almost no recourse at all.
In order to safeguard your designs and IP you need to:
1. Copyright your designs. Your best recourse is to go after the people SELLING your designs in the US.
2. BE careful about dealing with factories in China as a newbie without having someone over there working solely on your behalf in your dealings with the factory.
3. The best defense is a good offense. Have a company or individial with experience in garmet production in China working on your behalf as a broker between you and the factories. A good sourcing company will ensure your IP rights FOR YOU.
4. Get to know the manufacturers. Business in China is based on personal, face to face relationships. You cannot do business well from 7,000 miles away.
