Legitimization on the Eastern Front——IPR Protection and the Silk Alley Case

CLOTHES vendor Wang usually does good business in Silk Alley, a well-known street market in Beijing. However, last April was not one of Wang's most profitable months because the Alley's authorities closed down scores of his stands. The crackdown resulted from a case brought against the Silk Alley Company by five foreign brands peeved at its blatant selling of counterfeit versions of their products. Wang was temporarily out of a job, and he lost more than RMB 3 million.