China enhances IPR protection for Asian Winter Games

China has approved and registered 19 special symbols of the upcoming 9th Asian Winter Games, such as the emblem and mascots, in a move to strengthen intellectual property protection for the sports event, an official from the country's top IP regulator said.

"We've also set up a quick channel to review patent applications involving the event, and authorized six design patents already in this way," Guo Wen, head of the China National Intellectual Property Administration's IP protection division, told a news conference on Wednesday.

Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang province, will host the games from Feb 7 to 14.

Guo revealed that a campaign to fight IP infringements involving the games has been launched since the end of last year and will end in the middle of February.

The combat of malicious trademark registrations has been intensified nationwide, she said, adding that the administration has guided major livestreaming and e-commerce platforms, including Douyin, Kuaishou, JD and Pinduoduo, to strengthen IP protection while selling the authorized products related to the games.

Additionally, greater efforts have been made in introducing copyright, trademark and patent policies and laws to public, she said, calling on all walks of life to raise the awareness of IP protection to ensure the smooth progress of the event.