Are you a South African company using a manufacturer in China? Your Supplier Might Already Own Your Brand Here's a cautionary tale every business leader needs to know about China's "first-to-file" trademark system: China operates on a strict "first-to-file" basis for trademarks. This means whoever files first owns the mark - regardless of who actually created or used the brand first. THE TRAP Your Chinese supplier can (and sometimes will) file YOUR trademark in China before