Q&A: New Finnegan Palo Alto Managing Partner Erik Puknys Talks China

In this interview with The Recorder, Erik Puknys, managing partner at Finnegan’s Palo Alto office, discusses his trip to China for an intellectual property conference with other Bay Area companies.  Puknys traveled to China last fall, alongside Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, to discuss intellectual property and the role that Silicon Valley plays in the U.S. and China’s changing and evolving relationship. Puknys is asked about his overall impression of the conference, the problems and challenges that were brought up, as well as his take on ways we can make progress between the differences in U.S. and China’s IP system. “China has not had a great reputation for being innovative. It has a reputation for knocking off other people's intellectual property,” said Puknys when asked what the biggest challenge for “cross-border deals” between the U.S. and China. “The Chinese are very sensitive to that, and they are doing so much to change that.” While he acknowledges the obstacles, Puknys shares his excitement and optimism over the growth in China and the success of the conference. “The best of the relationship between China and the U.S. is here in Silicon Valley, I believe.”