China to sharpen IPR protection
July 18, 2019
China is set to comprehensively enhance intellectual property rights (IPR) protection to improve business climate and boost tech innovation.
China said it will further strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights as part of an effort in effectively protecting the lawful rights and interests of all types of market actors, fostering a more enabling business environment, boosting technological innovation, and deepening international cooperation, the State Council’s executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided.
All companies registered in China, both domestic or foreign-invested, will be treated as equals, and the lawful rights and interests of foreign businesses will be safeguarded.
Since 2012, the National Intellectual Property Administration has commissioned a third-party survey every year, inviting the public to rate government performance in IPR protection. Results show the level of public satisfaction has been going up year after year.
“Further enhancing the protection of intellectual property rights is crucial to improving our property rights protection system. It is required by scientific and technological innovation and essential for China’s greater opening-up,” Li said.
During the meeting it was also decided to intensify IPR-related law enforcement and it was stressed that all types of market actors must be treated as equals. Efforts to formulate and improve the criteria for determining, checking and verifying infringements and counterfeits of patents, trademarks and copyrights will be accelerated.
Special campaigns against violations of IPR-related laws will be further carried out and severe punishment involving hefty fines will be handed out. International cooperation on IPR protection will be enhanced to make it easier for companies to seek the grant of IPRs and their protection overseas.
“Greater efficiency is needed in the patent and trademark examination, and a greater number of patents in core areas and with high value will be promoted. It is particularly important to increase the patent commercialisation rate, which is relatively low at the moment,” Keqiang said.
Categories : Around the Industry
Tags : China IP Protection
