SHANGHAI: The National Organizing Committee of the Shanghai World Expo recently promised to protect the intellectual property rights of the event's 200 international participants.

The promise, contained in a document entitled the Intellectual Property Rights Protection Outlines for Expo 2010 Shanghai China, featured 10 measures the government would take to protect IPR.

The expo's organizer said copies of the outlines would be delivered to all of the countries and international organizations that have confirmed their participation in the event.

"IPR protection is a significant and necessary responsibility when it comes to hosting the expo. After all, the whole point of the World Exposition is that the participants get to show off the fruits of their wisdom. Having an effective IPR protection system in place should encourage the international participants to show their most advanced and original high-tech and cultural accomplishments," said Zhang Keqin, director of the Legal Department of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination.

In the document, the organizer promised to "create a favorable legal environment for the expo participants in China through simplified procedures, optimized services, strengthened law enforcement and intensified public promotion".

For example, the organizer will provide participants with certificates to ensure that any inventions they display for the first time in public at the Shanghai Expo will not lose their novelty if the participants apply for patent rights in China within six months of unveiling the invention.

Any trademarks first used for expo exhibits will also receive priority treatment if the owners register the trademark in China within six months of the display date. Performance certificates will also be provided to the performers and artists.

According to the outlines, the expo organizer will provide all participants with a list of qualified, reputable IPR agents registered in China.

Participants will also receive an IPR Protection Guide that provides detailed explanations about the services offered by the organizer.

The National Organizing Committee of the Shanghai World Expo also said it would set up an on-site office to offer IPR-related consulting services.

Government departments will also strengthen IPR protection and ensure that any cases of IPR infringement involving participants will be promptly handled.

"Actually, the outlines were based on the existing laws and regulations covering all major areas of IPR protection. We formulated the outline in view of the expo's unique character and the actual needs of participants," said Zhang.

Visitors will be allowed to freely take pictures or shoot video at the outdoor expo site. However, audio and video recording and live broadcasts will not be allowed at the participants' pavilions, said Zhang.

(China Daily 01/25/2007 page4)