In the context of their investments, collaborations, and day-to-day economic transactions in China, foreign-funded companies may encounter occasional violations of their legitimate rights and interests. Some instances of infringement even escalate to the suspicion of criminal offenses. This series of articles, grounded in criminal law, thoroughly explores and analyzes common types of criminal infringement, legal provisions, jurisprudence cases, and provides practical recommendations. The overarching objective is to furnish foreign-funded companies operating in China a comprehensive and legally sound guide, assisting them in effectively addressing potential criminal infringements during their business operations in China.
外企在华投资和日常经济往来过程中，其合法权益被侵害的现象时有发生，部分侵害甚至已涉嫌刑事犯罪。本系列文章从刑事犯罪角度出发，深入探讨并剖析刑事侵害的常见类型、法律规定、经典案例及相关实务建议，旨在为在华外企提供全面和实用的的法律导向，帮助其更加有效应地对在中国经营过程中可能遇到的刑事侵害问题。
As the inaugural piece of this article series, we will concentrate on introducing common types of criminal infringement against the rights and interests of foreign-funded companies in China. Additionally, we will provide a succinct analysis of the remedial measures and key considerations for foreign-funded companies following an infringement.
作为本系列文章的开篇，我们将重点介绍在华外企权益被刑事侵害的常见类型，并对外企被侵害后的救济路径及要点做简要分析。
I. Common Types of Criminal Infringement on Foreign-Funded Companies 外企权益被刑事侵害的常见类型
In the day-to-day operations of businesses, the infringement upon the lawful interests of companies is classified into two primary types: external infringement and internal infringement. External infringement primarily arises from the direct or indirect interactions between the companies and external entities such as suppliers, business partners and clients. Internal infringement mainly occurs within the companies, involving internal stakeholders such as shareholders, executives, and employees.
企业在日常经营过程中，其合法利益被侵害分为两大主要类型，即外部侵害和内部侵害。外部侵害主要源于企业与供应商、合作伙伴、客户等外部实体的直接或间接联系。内部侵害则主要发生在企业内部，涉及到股东、高管、员工等内部利益相关方。
- External Infringement 外部侵害
a. Fraudulent crimes: When establishing cooperative relationships with external suppliers, some collaborators, driven by profit motives or facing financial constraints, may not genuinely seek collaboration but rather intend to fraudulently obtain the company’s lawful property at minimal cost. For example, they may establish collaboration with the company under a fabricated entity to deceive and embezzle funds, disappear after receiving advance payments, etc. Common criminal charges related to such manipulations include contract fraud, letter of credit fraud, and general fraud.
诈骗类犯罪。在与外部供应商等建立合作关系时，部分合作商因利益驱动或资金链问题，并非抱着真正合作的目的前来，而是意图以最小代价骗取企业的合法财产。例如以虚构的主体与企业建立合作骗取钱财，收取预付款之后逃匿等，常见罪名有合同诈骗罪、信用证诈骗罪、诈骗罪等等。
b. Crimes on intellectual property infringement: Modern companies’ survival and development are closely tied to intellectual property. Given its critical importance, companies often face infringements in this area during their daily operations. Examples include counterfeit use of registered trademarks for similar goods, infringement of computer software copyrights, etc. Common criminal charges related to such infringements include the crime of counterfeiting registered trademarks, infringement of copyright, infringement of patents.
侵犯知识产权类犯罪。现代企业的生存与发展，可以说已经与知识产权密不可分，有人甚至直言知识产权是企业的第一生产力，未来企业之间的竞争归根结底是知识产权的竞争。正因为知识产权的重要性，企业日常经营中，亦常常面临这方面的侵害，如注册商标被假冒用于相同商品上、计算机软件著作权被侵犯等，常见罪名有假冒注册商标罪、侵犯著作权罪、侵犯专利罪等。
c. Crimes related to counterfeit products: product quality is the backbone of a company’s reputation and requires careful scrutiny. When procuring raw materials or other products from external sources, if the company is supplied with counterfeit products that do not conform to national or international standards, compulsory standards, or industry standards, it not only incurs economic losses but may also impact the quality of its own products, resulting in adverse effects. Common criminal charges associated with such infringements include the crime of producing and selling counterfeit products and crime of producing and selling products that do not conform to safety standards.
伪劣产品类犯罪。产品质量是企业信誉的生命线，需要严格把关。企业对外采购原材料或其他产品时，如被供应了不符合国家或国际标准、强制标准、行业标准等伪劣产品，不仅产生经济上的损失，甚至可能影响自身产品质量，形成不良影响。此类侵害行为，常见罪名有生产、销售伪劣产品罪、生产、销售不符合安全标准的产品罪等。
d. Crimes damaging business reputation: This refers to the intentional act of harming a company’s business reputation and standing, causing adverse effects that may lead to customer loss and reduced sales. Ultimately, this can result in severe damage to the company’s economic interests and market position. Such crimes typically involve tactics such as spreading false information, malicious defamation, tarnishing the reputation of competitors, and misleading consumers, all with the unjust purpose of undermining the targeted company’s reputation. Common criminal charges include the crimes of damaging business reputation and damaging product reputation.
损害商业信誉类犯罪。是指通过某些故意损害企业的商业信誉和声誉的行为，造成负面影响，可能导致客户流失、销售下降，最终对企业的经济利益和市场地位造成严重损害。这类犯罪通常涉及散布虚假信息、恶意诽谤、抹黑竞争对手、误导消费者等手段，以达到损害目标企业声誉的不正当目的。典型罪名如损害商业信誉、商品声誉罪。 - Internal Infringement 内部侵害
a. Crimes related to embezzlement and misappropriation of company’s property: due to factors such as geographical, cultural, and managerial considerations, instances of employees infringing upon the economic interest of foreign-funded companies are prevalent. Exploiting their positions of authority and access to the company’s assets, these employees misappropriate or divert the company’s property for personal gain. This behavior can adversely affect the normal business operations of the company and even foster an atmosphere of impropriety within the company. Common criminal charges include the crime of embezzlement of duty and the crime of misappropriation of funds.
侵占、挪用企业财产类犯罪。由于地缘、文化、管理等方面的原因，外企被内部员工侵害财产利益的现象频频发生。内部员工利用主管、管理、经手企业财物的便利，将企业财物据为己有或挪作他用，容易给企业正常生产经营造成不良影响，甚至在企业内部助长不正之风，常见罪名有职务侵占罪、挪用资金罪。
b. Crimes related to trade secrets: Generally, companies safeguard core technologies through the protection of trade secrets. Core employees within the company naturally possess the advantage of accessing, mastering, and controlling trade secrets. It is common for these employees to establish their own ventures utilizing trade secrets upon leaving the company. Additionally, some employees, even without direct knowledge of trade secrets, may unlawfully obtain and exploit them through means such as theft or intrusion. Such actions infringing on a company's trade secrets not only pose challenges to its operations but can seriously jeopardize the very survival of the company. The typical criminal charge associated with these offenses is the crime of trade secret infringement.
商业秘密类犯罪。企业通常将核心技术通过商业秘密形式进行保护。企业内部核心员工作为中流砥柱，具有接触、掌握、控制商业秘密的天然优势，离职后利用商业秘密自立门户实践中常常发生；部分员工虽未掌握商业秘密，但通过窃取、侵入等手段获取后也可加以非法利用。上述侵害企业商业秘密类的行为不仅给企业经营造成困扰，严重的将影响企业的生死存亡，典型罪名是侵犯商业秘密罪。
c. Crimes related to commercial bribery: Despite advocating a culture of integrity in business operations, bribery remains prevalent due to the lure of personal gain. On one hand, employees, in the course of business activities, exploit their positions to accept gifts or benefits from suppliers or partners. On the other hand, employees, while facilitating transactions, may, under the guise of the company, offer bribes to personnel from upstream companies or even governmental entities, posing a significant risk of implicating the company and facing legal consequences. Offenses falling under this category include crimes such as bribery of non-state personnel, offering bribes to non-state personnel, bribery, and corporate bribery.
商业贿赂类犯罪。廉洁是企业经营中倡导的文化，但由于利益驱使，商业贿赂行为仍然屡禁不止。一方面，企业员工在业务活动中，可能利用职务带来的便利，收受供应商或合作商给予的财物；另一方面，企业员工为促成交易，可能打着企业的旗号，向上游企业人员甚至国家人员贿送财物，极易导致企业被牵连追究责任。上述类型犯罪，相关罪名包括非国家工作人员受贿罪、对非国家工作人员行贿罪、行贿罪、单位行贿罪等。
II. Remedial steps and paths after criminal infringement of foreign-funded companies’ rights 外企权益被刑事侵害后的救济步骤与路径
When a company identifies potential criminal infringements against its interests, it should fully leverage both internal and external resources, actively seek remedies, and assert the damaged interests. Drawing on our experience in handling cases, we have outlined the following steps and paths for companies to consider as a reference.
当企业发现自身利益可能遭受刑事侵害时，应充分利用内部及外部力量，积极寻求救济，主张受损的利益。结合日常办案经验，我们梳理了以下步骤与路径供企业参考。 - Timely collect and preserve evidence 及时收集固定证据
Evidence is not only fundamental for proving the facts of a case but also crucial for determining the support for claims within the judicial process. As cases involve a retrospective examination of past events, evidence is susceptible to alteration or loss over time, necessitating prompt preservation. Depending on the nature of the crime, the emphasis on collecting evidence may vary. For example, in cases of contract fraud, it is crucial to collect evidence demonstrating the absence of genuine intent to fulfill contractual obligations. In crimes involving embezzlement or misappropriation, attention should be given to preserving evidence related to the flow of funds.
证据不仅是证明案件事实的根本，亦是在司法程序中的诉求能否得到支持的关键所在。由于案件情况均属于对过去事实的回溯，证据随着时间流逝也极有可能发生改变或灭失，需要及时予以固定。根据不同的犯罪类型，收集证据的侧重点会有所不同，例如合同诈骗类犯罪要注意收集对方不存在真实履约意图方面的证据，侵占、挪用类犯罪要注意固定资金走向方面的证据等，不一而足。 - Attempt negotiation to recover losses 尝试谈判挽回损失
Negotiation, as one of the efficient methods for dispute resolution, can yield significant results when applied appropriately. Based on a thorough investigation and the collection of evidence, a comprehensive assessment of risks and consequences, negotiating with both internal and external wrongdoers can be attempted. If the negotiation results are mutually accepted, it can save a considerable amount of time and costs, leading to an efficient recovery of the company's losses.
谈判作为高效解决争端的方式之一，运用得当可起到事半功倍的效果。在充分调查取证的基础上，全面评估权衡风险及后果，可尝试与内部、外部侵害者开展谈判工作。如谈判结果能够为双方所接受认可，将节约大量时间成本，进而高效挽回企业损失。 - File a lawsuit to safeguard rights 提出控告维护权益
After evaluating situations where negotiation is not pursued or fails to meet demands, a company can, in accordance with the law, file a criminal complaint against the perpetrator with the competent public security authorities. The Criminal Procedure Law grants victims and victimized entities the right to file a criminal complaint with public security or judicial authorities. Following the drafting of a detailed complaint, categorizing evidence materials, and presenting the case to the public security authorities, if they determine the existence of criminal facts, a criminal case will be initiated. Subsequently, measures such as criminal coercion against involved individuals and investigation methods such as sealing, seizure, and freezing of relevant assets may be implemented to thoroughly ascertain the facts of the case.
经评估不进行谈判或谈判无法达成诉求的情况下，企业可依法向有管辖权的公安机关对被侵害者提出刑事控告。《刑事诉讼法》赋予了被害人及被害单位向公安机关或司法机关提出控告的权利，在起草详细控告文书、将证据材料分类梳理、当面向公安机关陈述案情等工作基础上，如公安机关认为确有犯罪事实存在，将进行刑事立案，后可对相关涉案人员采取刑事强制措施、对涉案财产采取查封、扣押、冻结等侦查手段，全力查清案件事实。 - Actively participate in the litigation process 积极参与诉讼流程
In cases where a criminal case is initiated following the filing of a complaint and the conclusion of the investigation by public security authorities, the case will be transferred to the procuratorate for examination and prosecution. Companies can engage lawyers as legal representatives to handle tasks such as reviewing case files, legal analysis, communicating legal opinions with the prosecuting procuratorate, and, when necessary, discussing compensation and settlement matters with the accused or their family. As the case proceeds to the trial stage, the company can attend court sessions as the victimized entity, actively participating in the entire criminal litigation process.
经控告获得刑事立案的案件，公安机关侦查终结之后，会将案件移送检察院审查起诉。企业可委托律师作为诉讼代理人，代为开展阅卷、法律分析、与经办检察院沟通法律意见等工作，必要时可与被控告人或其家属沟通赔偿谅解问题。案件进入审判阶段，企业可作为被害单位列席庭审，全方位参与刑事诉讼程序。 - Initiate concurrent civil litigation 提起附带民事诉讼
Regarding the property that has been infringed upon, compensation can typically only be obtained through judicial authorities ordering restitution or compensation. For other material losses arising from criminal infringement, companies can attempt to recover damages to the maximum extent by initiating concurrent civil litigation alongside the criminal proceedings, seeking compensation from the individuals responsible.
针对被侵害的财产本身，一般只能通过司法机关责令退赃退赔的方式获得弥补。针对因被刑事侵害产生的其他物质损失，可尝试通过提起刑事附带民事诉讼的方式，向相关责任人员索赔，以期最大程度挽回企业的损失。
III. Conclusi 结语
In the intricate and complex business environment, companies often face various risks necessitating careful handling and strategic responses. Foreign-funded companies enjoy equal legal protection for their legitimate operations, assets, and corporate reputation. When facing criminal infringements, pursuing legal and compliant avenues for safeguarding rights and seeking remedies is a suitable approach to mitigate losses and reduce negative impacts. Concurrently, companies should prioritize internal compliance construction, standardize their operations, and address management loopholes, minimizing the risks associated with non-compliant behaviors by employees.
纷繁复杂的商业环境，常常让企业面临各方面的风险，需要妥善处理及应对。外企在华的合法经营、财产、企业信誉等受法律的同等保护，在遭受刑事侵害后，采取合法合规方式，有理有利有节开展维权救济工作，是挽回企业损失、减少负面影响的合适路径。同时，企业应注重内部的合规建设，规范自身经营、堵住管理漏洞，尽量避免员工不合规行为给企业带来的风险。