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Beijing Plays The Blame Game With Mattel
Beijing has come out fighting with regard to the massive recall of Mattel toys. The South China Morning Post reports on claims that the recall “was largely a result of its own faulty designs and not mainland production”. Those who have been attacking China for low-quality and dangerous product exports will be usefully reminded that [...]
The Importance of Local Expertise
Baird Capital Partners got a lesson in China’s cutthroat business culture when a plastic-molding company it owned tried to set up a joint venture there. While reading the fine print of an agreement between Xaloy Inc. and a local manufacturer, Baird Capital came across a clause indicating that the Chinese entity planned to set up [...]
Inside the toy recalls: Mattel’s sins
It’s been a few weeks since the Mattel toy recalls first started. Since then millions of toys have been taken off the shelves all over the world, a Chinese factory owner hung himself and the “Made in China” name is being dragged through the dirt in the US media. Just about everyone in the US [...]
“Made In China”: Managing The Backlash, Protecting The Brand
Every day seems to bring more misery for the “Made in China” label. I have recently reported on a range of poisonous and dangerous goods from China that have resulted in corporate recalls and consumer fears. In a damage-limitation exercise, China recently appointed Vice-Premier Wu Yi to head a team to manage the crisis. Now [...]
Hong Kong Toy Maker Hard to Avoid
A major Hong Kong toy maker was identified as the source of some lead-tainted toys sold by Mattel Inc. Early Light Industrial Co. is so low-profile that it doesn’t even have a corporate Web site, let alone a public-relations department. Yet it is one of the largest toy manufacturers in Asia, with more than 40,000 [...]
Registration and Enforcement of IP Rights in Korea: A Brief Introduction (Part 4)
[Editor's Note: We present our fourth and final installment of our review of the Korean intellectual property system. Prior installments: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. Once again, let me thank Drambuieman, the author, whose bio you may read in Part 1 of the series.] Common Scams Speaking of cyber-squatters, I thought it might be [...]
iPhone: Made In Shenzhen, Assembled by Foxconn
the iPhone is quite simply the reason I believed in Apple as a company 18 months ago when I bought shares. As I have mentioned on a number of occasions, it is its telecommunicationally challenged brother the iPod that has been a form of rechargeable sanity for most of my time in China… and that [...]
A Kingdom of Bicycles Goes Electric, But Pollution Problems Persist
Millions of Chinese are shelling out $200 to $300 for electric bicycles and scooters at a pace that has manufacturers in raptures and environmental officials having fits. It has also created a huge demand for lead. Almost 95% of electric bikes are powered by lead-acid batteries. For each bike, about one quarter of its weight [...]
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