IT & Telecoms

TransAsia is recognized as a leader in PRC IT & telecom law, and has one of the oldest practices in China dedicated to this highly regulated field. We utilize our extensive expertise and experience in this field to provide practical advice and innovative solutions. 

We represent clients ranging from well-established international telecommunications corporations to start-up entrepreneurs. We also routinely assist large users of communications services with their procurement needs, as well as private equity & venture capital firms, investment banks and other investors in the IT & telecom industry.

Client Services

Business Sectors

We offer services on a variety of business sectors, including portals, CP/SP, ISP, IDC, CDN, search engines, e-commerce, wireless, mobile TV, mobile games, and MVNO.  

Areas of Advice

• Market entry and structuring; establishment of corporate vehicles, partner selection and legal due diligence
• Software and hardware licensing
• Technology transfers
• Commercial contracts and agreements
• Online advertising and marketing
• Privacy issues and electronic placement
• Intellectual property protection (copyright, domain names, trademarks and trade names)
• Regulatory and compliance issues (including censorship)
• Privacy issues and electronic monitoring
• Reviewing and negotiating value-added telecom service contracts

Representative Transactions

• Assisted Ringier AG with its market entry analysis on the digital and print media industry and general corporate matters for its China advertising subsidiary
• Advised Polycom on its Halo Service  
• Acted as PRC counsel on the structuring, operations, private financing
  and NYSE IPO of Renren.com
• Represented Pinyou, an online targeted advertising and technology provider, in its series A offshore equity financing

• Advised Kabam on game distribution in the PRC and other operational issues 

• Advised China Cablecom on the PRC legal issues associated with a US$ 10 million PIPE transaction
• Represented Alibaba.com in its US$ 1 billion investment by Yahoo!, the largest transaction of its kind in China's Internet sector to date
• Advised RTT on its Software License Agreement, Software Maintenance & Support Agreement, Software Sub-Distribution Agreement
• Advised Research in Motion on its sponsorship of the Shanghai Expo 2010, as well as its China operations 
• Applied to the Beijing Communications Administration for a permit for China HR to provide bulletin board services.
• Advised CBSi (formerly CNET) on its acquisitions in China in the Internet sector
• Advised Microsoft on launching Xbox 360 in China
• Advised Sohu.com on its NASDAQ IPO and subsequent US$90 million convertible note offering, as well as various acquisitions, such as of 17173.com, the largest online games site in China, and Focus.cn, a leading real estate site
• Advised Qunar.com (largest online travel search engine in China) on its seed financing and all of its subsequent venture capital financing rounds
• Represented Meilishuo.com, an online social networking platform for apparel, shoes, accessories
• Advised Walt Disney on its various new media initiatives in China
• Advised Youku.com (leading Chinese video sharing website) on its last two venture capital financing rounds, with a total investment value of US$ 55 million, as well as its US$ 10 million venture debt and leasing facility
• Acted as PRC counsel on the structuring, operations, private financing
  and NYSE IPO of Youku.com
• Advised Liberty Global on its broadband joint venture project in China
• Represented Nokia on its investment in China's Internet services sector
• Assisted Akamai on its market entry and M&A in China's content delivery network sector
• Advised Adobe on its partnership with China Mobile
• Represented Electronic Arts in its various market entry initiatives in China, and its online and offline gaming operations
• Assisted Glu Mobile with its strategic cooperation with a leading PRC mobile game company, as well as on its game pre-installment cooperation agreement with a major mobile handset manufacturer

Publications

IT and Telecoms

China's IT Policy and Legislation

In collaboration with the Ministry of Industry & Information (now the MIIT) and key government officials, TransAsia produced three editions of China's IT Policy and Legislation in 1999, 2001 and 2003, respectively. The book is the first and only guide to this area of law and thus serves as an authoritative reference guide.

China's Videogame Industry Regulatory Landscape

In 2007, TransAsia released a report on China's Videogame Industry Regulatory Landscape. The report details the regulations, policies and processes for launching an online or traditional offline videogame in China and is a critical read for any company eager to enter China's games market.

E-Commerce