White Paper on IPR Protection (full text)
(china.org.cn)
Updated: 2005-04-21 10:32

VII. Customs Protection of Intellectual Property Rights

In September 1994, China began to carry out border protection of IPR. At present, the Chinese customs houses have established a complete system of IPR-related law enforcement measures, which includes such links as examination of customs declaration bills and certificates, inspection of imported and exported goods, detention and investigation of right-infringing goods, punishment of illegal importers and exporters, and disposal of right-infringing goods.

In October 1995, China promulgated and implemented its first ever "Regulations on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights by the Customs," and began to establish its system of IPR customs protection in accordance with WTO rules. In 2000, the NPC Standing Committee amended the "Customs Law of the People's Republic of China," defining the functions of IPR customs protection from the legal perspective. In December 2003, the Chinese government promulgated the revised "Regulations on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights by the Customs," which strengthened the customs houses' power in investigating and dealing with right-infringing goods, reduced the burden on the proprietors of intellectual properties in seeking customs protection, and defined the functions of the customs houses, the judicial and other administrative organizations. Later, the General Administration of Customs formulated the "Measures for Implementation" of the revised regulations, which clearly provided for such issues mentioned in the revised regulations as keeping business secrets, filing of international registered trademarks, collecting and returning of security deposit, and the payment of relevant fees by the proprietors. In September 2004, the Chinese government promulgated the "Regulations on Implementation of Administrative Penalties," which clearly provided administrative penalties for infringements on IPR in importation and exportation. The "Interpretations on Several Issues in Practical Application of Laws in Criminal Cases of Infringement on Intellectual Property Rights" was promulgated by the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate in December 2004, which further clearly stipulated the criminal responsibilities of agencies importing or exporting right-infringing goods. By then, a legal system for IPR customs protection geared to the needs of economic and social development had been basically established.

China has established and improved its law enforcement mechanism for IPR customs protection. First, it has established a central filing system for IPR customs protection. As long as the IPR proprietors have filed their IPR with the General Administration of Customs, the port customs have the power to detain imported or exported goods that infringe on the filed IPR. By the end of 2004, the General Administration of Customs had confirmed 6,257 files of IPR for customs protection. Second, a model combining active protection with passive protection is implemented in law enforcement. Besides detaining import or export goods suspected of IPR infringement, the customs can also investigate and deal with illegal import and export of right-infringing goods within the scope of their powers and duties. Third, law enforcement organizations have been founded and improved, and the building of IPR law enforcement teams enhanced. By the end of 2004, all the customs houses directly under the General Administration of Customs had set up relevant departments for the management of IPR protection, and 11 of them had set up special organizations for IPR protection. Some customs houses with adequate conditions had stationed liaison officers on site. A system of IPR law enforcement has taken shape on three levels, namely, the General Administration of Customs, customs houses directly under it, and grass-roots customs posts.

To curb right infringements and piracy in import and export links, the port customs all over China focus law enforcement on import and export of fake and pirated products. From 1996 to 2004, the Chinese customs ferreted out 4,361 cases of right infringement in import and export, which involved 630 million yuan. Since 2000, the number of cases discovered by the customs has increased by 30 percent annually. The customs have effectively cracked down on the illegal import and export of right-infringing goods, preserving order at ports, and safeguarding the interests of proprietors.

In offering IPR border protection, the Chinese customs attach great importance to liaison and cooperation with proprietors and relevant organizations and associations of proprietors, and have enhanced their communication and coordination with IPR authorities and their cooperation and exchanges with foreign border law enforcement authorities. So far, the Chinese customs have signed memorandums of cooperation on IPR protection with such proprietors' organizations as the Motion Picture Association of America, and have cooperated with them successfully. The Chinese customs have cooperated on many occasions in law enforcement with IPR-related administrative and criminal law enforcement authorities, such as IPR management authorities and public security organs, effectively cracking down on illegal and criminal IPR infringement. The Chinese customs have signed agreements of mutual assistance in administrative law enforcement with the customs of the European Union countries, the United States and other countries, which contain the provisions on IPR customs protection. The Chinese customs have also actively conducted information exchange and law enforcement cooperation regarding IPR protection with the customs services of other countries.