중국 사출 금형 소유권 계약서

당신은 중국 공장에서 생산 금형에 $30,000을 지출했습니다. 6개월 후, 당신은 생산을 다른 곳으로 이동하려고 합니다 — 그리고 공장은 금형이 그들의 소유라고 말합니다. 아니요, 그들은 그것을 배송하지 않을 것입니다. 예, 그들은 당신의 부품을 계속 만들고 싶습니다. 그들의 조건으로. 익숙한 이야기인가요? 이것은 누구도 인정하기 싫은 것보다 더 자주 발생하며, 금형을 되찾는 것과 완전히 잃는 것의 차이는 한 문서에 달려 있습니다: 금형 소유권 계약.

사출 금형 소유권 계약이란 무엇인가요?

사출 금형 소유권 계약은 공장이 아닌 귀하가 금형을 소유한다는 것을 증명하는 법적 문서입니다 Mold Tooling¹. 중국에서는 이 문서는 선택 사항이 아닙니다: 이것 없이, 많은 공장에서 기본적인 가정은 그들이 자신의 공장에서 제조한 도구를 소유한다는 것입니다. 이 계약은 일반적으로 금형 디자인 IP, 양도 권리, 저장 조건, 보험 의무, 유지 보수 책임, 그리고 공급자가 파산할 경우의 상황을 포함합니다.

이 계약은 일반적으로 금형 설계 지적재산권, 이전 권리, 보관 조건, 보험 의무, 유지보수 책임, 그리고 공급자가 파산할 경우의 상황을 다룹니다. 다른 사람의 건물에 위치한 6자리 숫자 자산에 대한 재산 증서라고 생각하세요 — 단, 그 건물은 8,000마일 떨어져 있고, 현지 법체계는 예상과 다르게 작동합니다.

중국 공장이 금형 소유권 이전을 거부하는 이유는 무엇인가요?

중국 공장들이 금형 소유권 양도를 거부하는 이유는 간단합니다: 당신의 도구를 유지하는 것은 반복적인 생산 수익을 확보합니다. 대부분의 중국 사출 성형 공급자는 대량 생산으로 얇은 마진으로 운영되며, 도구 제작으로는 아닙니다. 그들의 비즈니스 모델은 당신의 부품 생산을 내부에 유지하는 데 의존합니다. 어떤 공장들은 미래 생산량을 확보하기 위해 도구 제작 비용을 비용 수준 또는 그 아래로 책정합니다 — 이는 모든 사출 성형 공급업체 중국에서.

이것은 본질적으로 부정직하지 않습니다 — 이것은 중국 제조업에서 일반적인 가격 책정 전략입니다. 공장은 경쟁력 있는 가격으로 당신의 금형을 제작하는 데 투자합니다, 왜냐하면 그들은 12–36개월 동안 부품 생산으로 그 투자를 회수할 것으로 기대합니다. 당신이 세 번의 생산 실행 후 금형을 빼내면, 그들은 그 도구 제작에서 실제로 돈을 잃습니다.

실질적인 의미는 당신이 어떤 돈이 이동하기 전에 소유권 기대를 먼저 해결해야 한다는 것입니다. 이 대화를 거부하는 공장들은 종종 이후 당신의 금형을 반납하지 않는 같은 공장들입니다. ZetarMold에서의 우리 경험에 따르면, 첫날부터 소유권 조건에 대한 투명성은 실제로 비즈니스 관계를 강화합니다 — 양측 모두 자신의 위치를 정확히 알고 있습니다.

ZetarMold에서 국제 고객들과 협력한 경험을 통해, 우리는 이전 공급자가 단지 문서화된 소유권 계약이 없었기 때문에 $50,000 이상의 금형을 반납하지 않는 프로젝트를 보았습니다. 구매자는 전액을 지불했습니다. 공급자는 신경 쓰지 않았습니다 — 그들은 물리적 소유권을 가지고 있었고, 중국 법률 계약 없이는 구매자는 사실상 영향력을 행사할 수 없었습니다.

금형 소유권 계약에 반드시 포함되어야 할 주요 조항은 무엇인가요?

강제 집행 가능한 금형 소유권 계약은 여섯 가지 필수 조항을 포함하는 것입니다. 이는 (1) 명확한 소유권 선언, (2) 이전 및 회수 권리, (3) 보관 및 유지 보수 의무, (4) 보험 요건, (5) 무단 사용 금지, (6) 종료 및 분쟁 해결 조건입니다. 이 중 하나라도 누락되면 공급업체가 이용할 수 있는 간극이 생깁니다.

중국 법률은 금형 소유권을 어떻게 다루나요?

Under Chinese law, mold ownership is determined by what the written contract states — in Chinese, under Chinese law, via Chinese arbitration. Foreign-court judgments are generally not enforceable in China. Under the PRC Civil Code (effective January 2021), mold ownership follows the contract between the parties. If the contract says you own it, you own it — in theory. In practice, enforcement requires specific contract provisions.

This means a mold ownership agreement drafted in English under New York law is essentially worthless if the factory is in Shenzhen and decides to keep your mold. You need a bilingual agreement — with the Chinese text controlling in case of discrepancy — filed with a recognized Chinese arbitration institution. It costs more upfront, but it is the only version a Chinese factory will actually respect.

NNN 계약과 금형 소유권 계약의 차이점은 무엇인가요?

An NNN Agreement² and a mold ownership agreement are two separate documents protecting different things — your IP versus your physical tooling. An NNN agreement (Non-Disclosure, Non-Use, Non-Circumvention) protects your intellectual property — designs, drawings, specifications. A mold ownership agreement protects your physical asset — the steel 사출 금형 tooling itself. They serve different purposes, and you need both.

We have seen buyers who had a solid NNN in place but lost their molds because they never signed a separate ownership agreement. The NNN prevented the supplier from copying the design — theoretically — but it said nothing about who owned the physical mold. The factory argued (successfully) that without a specific ownership clause, the mold was theirs under local commercial custom. Two different documents, two different protections. Do not skip either.

The lesson is straightforward: never assume that one document covers everything. IP protection and physical asset protection are parallel but distinct legal needs, and Chinese courts treat them as separate matters requiring separate contractual foundations.

The scope of protection differs fundamentally. An NNN prevents the factory from sharing your CAD files or making your product without permission — it addresses information security. A mold ownership agreement addresses property rights: who holds title, who controls access, and what happens to the physical steel when the relationship ends. In Chinese legal practice, these are separate legal concepts covered by separate areas of law.

언제 금형 소유권 조건을 협상해야 하나요?

The best time to negotiate mold ownership terms is before you place the tooling order — not during production, and certainly not after. The supplier wants your business most during the quotation and vendor selection phase. Once you have paid the deposit and they are cutting steel, your leverage drops significantly.

Include ownership terms in your initial RFQ or purchasing agreement. Make it clear from the first interaction that mold ownership is a deal-breaker. Suppliers who refuse to sign an ownership agreement before taking your tooling order are telling you something important about how the relationship will go.

In practical terms, here is the negotiation sequence we recommend: (1) Sign the NNN first, before sharing any design files. (2) Include mold ownership terms in the manufacturing agreement or as a standalone addendum. (3) Pay for tooling only after both documents are executed. (4) Insist on receiving mold design files (CAD data) as part of the delivery. This four-step approach protects both your IP and your physical tooling investment.

중국 공급자가 파산하면 귀하의 금형은 어떻게 되나요?

Your mold is treated as factory assets in a Chinese bankruptcy — unless your agreement explicitly carves it out. This is a clause most buyers never think about, and it is one of the most important. Without a specific bankruptcy carve-out, you become just another unsecured creditor waiting in line.

The solution is a contractual clause stating that the mold is buyer property held in bailment (a bailment relationship under Chinese law), not a factory asset. Combined with an equipment tag or engraving showing buyer name and asset number, this creates a stronger claim that the mold is not part of the factory’s bankruptcy estate. It is not foolproof — Chinese bankruptcy proceedings can be unpredictable — but it gives you a legal argument that pure possession-based claims lack.

We recommend including a specific provision that the mold is excluded from any creditor claims, pledge, or lien by the factory or its affiliates. Additionally, require the factory to maintain separate storage for customer-owned molds — physically distinct from their own tooling inventory. These structural separations, combined with proper documentation, significantly improve your position in any insolvency scenario.

중국 공장에서 물리적으로 금형을 어떻게 회수할 수 있나요?

Mold retrieval is a formal process. You invoke your ownership agreement, send a 30-day transfer request, and arrange shipping. If the factory refuses, arbitration under Chinese law is your recourse. The practical steps are: (1) Send a formal written request citing the ownership agreement, with a reasonable deadline (typically 30 days). (2) Arrange and pay for shipping, insurance, and any outstanding maintenance costs. (3) Have a third-party inspector verify mold condition before it leaves the factory. (4) If the factory refuses, initiate arbitration under the contract’s dispute resolution clause.

The retrieval process itself can take 2–6 weeks under normal circumstances. If there is resistance, arbitration in China can take 6–12 months. This is why the agreement must specify a clear transfer timeline and penalties for non-compliance. A clause stating the factory must release the mold within 30 days of written request, with a daily penalty for delay, gives you measurable recourse.

Some buyers opt to have an injection molding sourcing agent or third-party logistics provider handle the retrieval. This can reduce friction, as the factory may be more willing to release the mold to a neutral party rather than a competitor. Either way, make sure your ownership agreement names who is authorized to collect the mold on your behalf.

중국의 금형 소유권에 관한 가장 일반적인 질문은 무엇인가요?

Can a Chinese factory legally keep my mold if there is no written agreement?

Yes. Without a written ownership agreement governed by Chinese law, the factory can claim ownership based on possession and manufacturing custom. Verbal agreements are extremely difficult to enforce in China, and email confirmations alone carry limited legal weight in Chinese courts. The default legal position in many Chinese jurisdictions favors the party with physical possession of the tooling asset, which is almost always the factory that built and housed the mold on their premises. This is precisely why a formal bilingual contract is not optional — it is the only reliable protection for your tooling investment.

How much does a mold ownership agreement cost to draft?

A qualified China-focused manufacturing lawyer typically charges $2,000–$5,000 for a comprehensive mold ownership agreement with NNN provisions included. This represents a fraction of the mold’s replacement value — most production molds for injection molding cost between $10,000 and $80,000 depending on cavity count, steel grade, and geometric complexity. Think of the agreement cost as an insurance premium protecting a high-value manufacturing asset that sits in a factory thousands of miles away, under a legal system you may not be familiar with.

Should the mold ownership agreement be in Chinese or English?

Both languages, with the Chinese text explicitly designated as the governing and controlling version in the agreement itself. Chinese courts and arbitration bodies rely exclusively on the Chinese text as the authoritative legal document for any dispute resolution process. Any discrepancy between the English and Chinese versions will be resolved using the Chinese text, which means both versions must be drafted carefully and consistently by qualified legal counsel who specialize in cross-border manufacturing contracts and bilingual commercial agreement preparation and enforcement.

What if my supplier refuses to sign a mold ownership agreement?

Find a different supplier immediately — this is a deal-breaker. A factory that will not agree to basic ownership terms is clearly signaling that they intend to retain your tooling as leverage for continued business. This is a non-negotiable red flag in any injection molding partnership, regardless of how competitive their part pricing appears to be. The long-term risk of losing access to a mold worth tens of thousands of dollars far outweighs any short-term cost savings that factory might offer on individual part prices.

Can I get mold insurance to protect my investment in China?

Yes, tooling insurance is available through trade credit insurers and specialized manufacturing insurance providers who understand the China market. These policies can cover mold loss, physical damage, or supplier default scenarios. Your ownership agreement should require the factory to carry comprehensive insurance naming you as the loss payee, with coverage equal to the full replacement cost of the mold tooling. This provides a financial backstop that operates completely independent of the factory’s financial health or their willingness to cooperate with your mold retrieval requests at any point.

Does paying for the mold in full automatically make me the owner in China?

No, payment alone does not establish ownership under Chinese commercial practice or contract law. A written agreement stating ownership title — separate from the payment record, purchase order, or commercial invoice — is necessary to prove legal title in any dispute. The factory’s invoice confirms you paid for tooling services, but it does not establish that you own the resulting physical mold asset. Only a dedicated ownership agreement with proper legal structure creates that enforceable claim under the PRC Civil Code.

How long does mold retrieval arbitration take in China?

CIETAC arbitration typically takes 6–12 months for mold ownership disputes from initial filing through to the final arbitral award being issued. Local arbitration commissions in major manufacturing cities like Shenzhen, Dongguan, or Shanghai may resolve cases faster, sometimes within 3–6 months, but enforcement speed varies significantly by jurisdiction and local court cooperation levels. Always include a specific arbitration clause naming the institution, the city, and the governing language in your ownership agreement to minimize procedural delays and jurisdictional disputes during the arbitration process.

What should I do if a supplier uses my mold for another client?

Send a formal written cease-and-desist letter immediately, citing both your NNN agreement and mold ownership agreement as the legal basis for your demand. Document the unauthorized use thoroughly with photographs of the copied parts, physical samples purchased through third parties, and shipping records before taking any formal legal action. If the supplier continues unauthorized production after receiving your notice, initiate arbitration proceedings promptly under your contract’s dispute resolution clause. Acting quickly and documenting everything comprehensively strengthens your legal position significantly.

Quick rule: before you pay for tooling in China, have two documents ready — an NNN for your IP, and a mold ownership agreement (in Chinese, under Chinese law) for the physical mold. If the factory will not sign both, walk away. No discount is worth losing a costly mold. At ZetarMold, we provide transparent mold ownership agreements as standard practice — your tooling is your asset, not a negotiating chip. With 47 사출 성형 machines in Shanghai, 100+ molds delivered monthly, and 8 senior 사출 금형 engineers on staff, we have the scale and documentation practices to keep your investment secure. Get a Free Quote and let us show you how straightforward mold ownership can be.

1. Mold Tooling: 몰드 툴링은 사출 성형에서 녹은 플라스틱을 완성된 부품으로 성형하는 데 사용되는 정밀 강철 몰드를 의미하며, 복잡성에 따라 일반적으로 $5,000~$100,000의 비용이 듭니다. ↩

2. NNN Agreement: 비밀유지·비사용·우회방지 계약은 중국 제조업에서 구매자의 지적재산을 공개, 무단 사용, 공급업체 우회로부터 보호하기 위해 일반적으로 사용되는 세 부분으로 구성된 계약입니다. ↩

3. Bailment: 임치는 한 당사자가 다른 당사자의 재산을 일시적으로 보관하는 법적 관계를 말합니다. 이 맥락에서는 공장이 소유권 없이 고객의 몰드 툴링을 보관하는 경우를 의미합니다. ↩