Google has a code of conduct that guides intellectual property governance. In their general guideline, the term “Don’t be evil” is meant to help Google users to serve their clients by meeting their needs by offering them with best products, without any barrier to information access. In summary, it involves acting right; making use of their quality employees to act ethically in every arena. They also act by the principle of trust and mutual respect for the property owners. This is accomplished by the policy of free information to all in a respectable manner without personal infringement. However, Google considers its trademarks, logos, copyrights, trade secrets, and patents as the most useful assets they own. This means that any unauthorized application of the above may cause the company big losses. It, therefore, follows that for any intention to use them, a marketing team must approve the user.
Possible Issues and risks of intellectual property protection in China
The theft of intellectual property in China is considered to be at its highest level compared to other nations. According to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, China presents a scenario where foreign companies can sell various products such as media and software that wholly rely on intellectual property are never paid for because of such cases as piracy (Gohring, 2010). It is stated that Microsoft is one of the foreign companies that have borne the wrath of intellectual property theft (Gohring, 2010). Furthermore, the fact that China has been known for many years as a country thriving in the outsourcing business, with foreign companies outsource like Microsoft, Motorola, IBM, etc taking the lead as companies that have followed this Chinese trend. However, intellectual property theft is proving tricky for these companies, as they are now engaging their research and development in their attempt to manufacture on their own (Clark & Kennedy, 2005).
Google China and theft of intellectual property
Since it entered the Chinese market in 2005, Google China has struggled to deal with the intellectual property controversy. The controversy surrounds the problems that emanate from the intellectual property that the Chinese government felt that the company has been breaching the law by their unfiltered contents in the search engine (Staff, 2010). Google found out that its security measures on intellectual property were being attacked by a ‘highly sophisticated network’, thereby leading up to the theft of its intellectual property (Staff, 2010).
Google’s new approach to China focusing on intellectual property is their new approach to handle such an issue. For example, China’s Written Works Copyright Society accused the company of copyright infringement, since Google used to scan and post its products (e.g. books) online without express authorization of the author (Washingtonpsot.com, 2010).
The dilemma of compliances to the Chinese law and IP protection policy
Considering what Microsoft has gone through in their attempt to fight piracy and Google’s threat to quit the Chinese market due to large scam of intellectual property rights, the dilemma companies like Google face is their huge investment in the country and the size of the Chinese market that got them attracted before entry (Washingtonpost, 2010). It has also been revealed that China is using various approaches to access useful information data as well as technical know-how, thereby making the hackers acquire information illegally (Staff, 2010).
Conclusion
It is generally a challenging task trying to mitigate the risk associated with the security of information as well as legal compliance to the laws set by the Chinese government. However, the company has decided to engage the government in the solution to the problem. One area that they have embraced is the censoring law, albeit by outlining what they feel should be censored and that which does not need censorship. They have decided to approach the management approach in another dimension, by hiring Chinese employees to integrate their cultural approach to business and ethics, encouraging the attitude of free-thinking in an attempt to bring the desired change to China.
Google policy has long been based on activities with the idea of free speech and a community with a free culture of expression. In this approach, Google did not limit what went to the public viewing and avoidance of the traditional telephone as well as media firms with their daily war on copyright infringement.
Reference
Clark, D. & Kennedy G. (2005). IP issues in outsourcing to China. Web.
Gohring, N. (2010). Ballmer: Microsoft will stay in China. Web.
Staff, T. Foreign companies concerned over intellectual property theft in China. 2010. Web.
Washingtonpsot.com. (2010). Google incident illustrate dilemma for foreign companies in China. Web.