Changsha in Hunan province leads the way in IP protection

In terms of law enforcement, the Intellectual Property Criminal Investigation Division under Changsha Public Security Bureau plays an indispensable role in combating illegal and criminal activities related to IP infringement.

Based on big data and AI-backed smart information platform, the police team has helped over 80 enterprises in one and half year, especially on trademark counterfeiting of cosmetics, medical equipment and luxury brands.

As Hunan province embraces free trade zone this year, the IPR protection is expected to have wider international reach. "The investigation division will deepen cooperation with Changsha customs, with focus on import and export goods to fight against cross-border IPR crimes," said Li Chao, the political commissar of the Intellectual Property Criminal Investigation Division.

To set up an all-in-one IPR protection system, the Changsha government established the Intellectual Property Protection Center two years ago, offering public services including patent examination, IP inquiry, copyright registration, legal mediation and infringement complaints. The patent examination period has been shortened from 22 months to 2-3 months.

Besides, Changsha is giving full play of IPR as the stimulus of economic growth by encouraging SME's IPR patent pledge financing process, which helped firms raise more than 4 billion yuan in three years.