When a defendant is located in China or another foreign country, may a plaintiff seek court authorization under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(f)(3) to serve the complaint by email without first complying with the Hague Service Convention?

Drawing from litigation trends in U.S. federal courts, particularly those involving global platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Alibaba, this report outlines both the obstacles to effective enforcement and the emerging legal tools—such as Schedule A lawsuits, electronic service, and asset freezing orders—used to protect IP rights.