Rayto’s 2026 AIPPI World Congress Recap

From October 7 to 10, 2026, the annual global intellectual property event—the AIPPI World Congress—was held in Hamburg, Germany. Thousands of intellectual property professionals from more than 100 countries and regions around the world gathered on the banks of the Elbe to discuss the protection and utilization of innovation. Four lawyers from Jiangsu Rayto—Haijun Jiang, Bin Chen, Tan Meng, and Xuejian Wu—attended the event and spent four days engaging in a dense and fruitful series of exchanges with partners from around the world.

Rayto’s lawyer team at the 2026 AIPPI Hamburg World Congress

I. Four Days, More Than 30 Meetings, and a Global “Circle of Friends”

Every international congress is an “expansion” of the global intellectual property service network. This time, the Rayto team traveled to Hamburg with a full “meeting schedule.”

Over the four days, the Rayto team met and held talks one by one with heads of law firms and intellectual property institutions from more than 30 countries and regions, including the United States, Germany, Malaysia, Russia, Türkiye, India, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, Canada, Poland, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Nigeria, South Africa, Italy, Azerbaijan, the Philippines, and Palestine.

The long list included many well-known institutions familiar to the industry—MLA IP Law and MG-IP in the United States; HOYNG ROKH MONEGIER in the Netherlands; VIERING, JENTSCHURA & PARTNER, Boehmert & Boehmert, Alpspitz-IP, karo IP, and SKIM IP in Germany; Dastani & Dastani in Canada; PATENTICA and Vakhnina & Partners in Russia; Studio Torta in Italy; Inventa in the Philippines; GROSER & GROSER, CENTRiiK, and KAN AND KRISHME in India; Nanyang Law in Singapore; Erdem, Kaya & Partners in Türkiye; Sigeon IP in Poland; Ageless IP in Vietnam; Dennemeyer & Associates in South Africa; and OKEY IP and Benchmac & Ince in Nigeria, among others.

From round tables beside exhibition booths to meeting points in the registration area; from coffee corners in hotel lobbies to corridors between sessions—every meeting was a building of trust and the beginning of a partnership. These strong partners around the world are exactly the solid service network Rayto has built for Chinese enterprises going global.

Supplement: Dividing Up Tasks, with Deeper Exchanges Than Ever Before

Compared with previous sessions, the biggest difference of this Hamburg trip was the “depth” of the exchanges. The four lawyers—Haijun Jiang, Bin Chen, Tan Meng, and Xuejian Wu—divided up tasks and went to different meeting locations, covering as many partners as possible in just four days.

The content of the exchanges also went far beyond pleasantries and business card exchanges. Around specific key cases, the two sides often held detailed discussions on case facts, legal strategies, and timelines; for future cooperation, they also settled practical details one by one, such as service division, collaboration mechanisms, and response methods.

From “getting to know each other” to “deep collaboration,” from “potential cooperation” to “can be entrusted”—this depth and warmth represent a significant upgrade in the relationship between Rayto and its global partners.

Exchanges on site with peers from Southeast Asia and Europe

In-depth discussions with partners from the United States and Europe

Face-to-face exchanges between sessions

Group photo with global partners

Group photo with European peers

Exchanges with representatives of intellectual property institutions from the Middle East and North Africa

II. Two Most Direct Impressions

Impression 1: There Are Clearly More Peers from the Belt and Road Initiative

At this congress, the number and level of activity of intellectual property service institutions from Belt and Road partner countries left a deep impression on us. Peers from Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa not only actively exhibited and set up booths, but also proactively sought cooperation with Chinese law firms.

Behind this is a clear and strong signal: Chinese enterprises are accelerating their entry into their markets. Whoever can connect first with the going-global needs of Chinese innovation entities will seize the development opportunities of the coming years. This is true for global peers, and it is also true for Chinese law firms.

Impression 2: Chinese Enterprises Are the Focus of Global Intellectual Property Service Providers

In every exchange, “the Chinese market” and “Chinese enterprises going global” were the most frequently mentioned topics. Global peers are actively positioning themselves in the Chinese market and competing for Chinese enterprise clients—from application agency to enforcement litigation, from technology licensing to dispute resolution, all want a share of the opportunity.

This makes us both proud and deeply aware of our responsibility. The global influence of Chinese innovation entities has truly changed the landscape of the world’s intellectual property service industry. Providing world-class intellectual property services for Chinese enterprises is exactly the responsibility that Chinese law firms should shoulder.

III. When WeChat Becomes a “Global Lingua Franca”

There was another detail that struck us deeply: many peers from Belt and Road countries have WeChat, and many even proactively suggested “let’s add each other on WeChat.” After exchanging business cards, the next sentence was often “let’s keep in touch on WeChat.”

Not long ago, international business exchanges relied on email and telephone; today, WeChat has become a common tool in global intellectual property exchanges. A social product from China that is widely used around the world is an important reflection of China’s technological strength and influence, and a natural connector for Chinese enterprises going global.

This makes us even more convinced: the path for Chinese enterprises going global is now more confident than ever. Because technological connections, business connections, and human connections are all converging in a direction favorable to China.

IV. Rayto’s Reflections: Going Global Is More Than Filing Applications

This Hamburg trip also made Rayto more firmly committed to its direction—providing more comprehensive intellectual property legal services for Chinese enterprises going global, not limited to filings.

For a long time, the intellectual property needs of Chinese enterprises have mostly concentrated on the “filing” stage: filing patents, filing trademarks, and filing for overseas protection. But after going global, enterprises face an unfamiliar and complex global competitive environment. The real challenges often occur after filing.

What Chinese enterprises going global truly need is intellectual property strength that can help them “participate in and win” in global markets:

● Litigation and dispute resolution: When encountering infringement disputes overseas, a professional team should step forward and safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese enterprises through litigation and arbitration;

● Commercial intellectual property negotiations: In mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and technology cooperation, turn patents, trademarks, and trade secrets into bargaining chips at the negotiating table and strive for the greatest interests for enterprises;

● Technology licensing negotiations: Enable Chinese enterprises’ innovation achievements to “go global and be sold,” and obtain due market returns and commercial value through licensing;

● Going-global compliance and risk prevention and control: From the first day of product going global, complete intellectual property portfolio planning, FTO analysis, compliance review, and risk early warning to safeguard enterprises.

Intellectual property has never been just “a certificate”; it is also a weapon in market competition, a bridge for business cooperation, and an important component of enterprise value. Helping Chinese enterprises make good use of intellectual property and truly participate in global market competition is Rayto’s unwavering direction.

Two-Way Service: Helping Chinese Enterprises “Go Global” and Overseas Enterprises “Come In”

Rayto’s services have never been one-way. While helping Chinese enterprises go global, Rayto also relies on its deep understanding of Chinese law and the market to help overseas enterprises, institutions, and rights holders obtain professional and reliable intellectual property protection in the Chinese market.

From patent and trademark infringement encountered by overseas enterprises in China, to rights arrangements in cross-border technology cooperation, and to compliance and portfolio planning for foreign rights holders entering the Chinese market—Rayto safeguards them all with the same professionalism and enthusiasm. It is precisely this two-way commitment and mutual achievement that has earned Rayto the trust and recommendations of more and more international peers.

V. About Rayto: Deeply Cultivating Intellectual Property and Serving Chinese Enterprises Going Global

Jiangsu Rayto is a professional law firm with intellectual property as its core practice and covering the entire intellectual property lifecycle. Since its establishment, Rayto has always focused on the field of intellectual property, with undivided attention and sustained dedication, committed to becoming a trustworthy intellectual property legal service partner for Chinese enterprises.

We deeply understand that intellectual property is the core competitiveness of modern enterprises. Patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, anti-unfair competition—every right embodies an enterprise’s innovation efforts and market value. What Rayto does is help Chinese enterprises transform these “intangible assets” into tangible competitive advantages.

Global Vision, Local Service

This Hamburg trip is a microcosm of Rayto’s global vision. Facing the wave of Chinese enterprises accelerating their going-global efforts, Rayto adheres to “global vision, local depth”: relying on its solid foundation in Chinese law, while extending its professional reach to major world markets through in-depth cooperation with high-quality global institutions.

We believe that true international service is not simply intermediary matching, but centering on Chinese enterprises, integrating global resources, coordinating global portfolios, and resolving global risks for them. This is exactly the pursuit Rayto has consistently upheld over the years.

Our Mission: Enhancing Enterprises’ Commercial Competitiveness Through Intellectual Property

Rayto’s mission has always been clear and firm—committed to serving enterprises in resolving intellectual property disputes, using professionalism and responsibility to help enterprises resolve risks and gain the initiative, thereby effectively enhancing their commercial competitiveness.

We also see that as Chinese enterprises participate more deeply in global competition, understanding and matching future international intellectual property rules is becoming increasingly important. From the Unified Patent Court in Europe to evolving multilateral rules, Rayto always follows the direction of the global intellectual property system and helps enterprises plan ahead and respond calmly in a complex international environment.

Using intellectual property as a fulcrum to help enterprises enhance commercial competitiveness and match future international rules—this is Rayto’s unchanging commitment to every client.

Our Philosophy: Whether Going from China to the World or Encountering Disputes Overseas, Rayto Is Willing to Walk Side by Side with Chinese Enterprises

With professionalism and responsibility, we guard every innovation achievement and support every voyage of going global. October in Hamburg has a cool sea breeze, but the enthusiasm for exchange was warm. Carrying abundant gains and the trust of global partners, the Rayto team began its journey home.

The wave of Chinese enterprises going global has only just begun. On the road ahead, there are both opportunities and challenges; there are broad markets and complex rules. Rayto is willing to be a fellow traveler in this wave, using professionalism and responsibility to move together with Chinese enterprises toward broader world markets.

On the journey of going global, intellectual property protection is your escort. Rayto Zhiwen is always with you.