According to a report by the State Intellectual Property Office, China saw further development in its work in intellectual property in 2004.

Applications for three kinds of patent top two million

The examination of patent was enhanced in both quantity and quality after measures on expanding the staff for examination, optimizing the process of examination, improving management and strengthening dynamic research on standards of examination as well as setting up examination quality safeguard system were adopted. Till March 17, 2004, over two million applications of invention, practical new patter and layout design for patent were handled. In contrast to the 15 years for the first one million applications to be dealt with, it took only four years and two months for the second one million, realizing a leap in the quantity of applications. In 2004, the State Intellectual Property Office handled over 350, 000 applications for patent, 14 percent more than the previous year; 190, 000 patents were authorized throughout the year, up 4.4 percent year-on-year. The examination and approval process was shortened from 30 months in 2003 to 28 months, easing the arrears of examinations.

Formulate national intellectual property strategy and strengthen macro-management

In order to meet the needs of the development of science and technology, the rising knowledge economy and the accelerated economic globalization and give full play to the role of intellectual property system in promoting the nation's economic and social development, the State Intellectual Property Office, based on the State Council's order, outlined the principles, objectives and summaries of part of the measures for the national intellectual property strategy, and the steering group started its initial work in this regard.

The State Intellectual Property Office actively performed its duty concerning the macro-management of the nation's patent work, joined the national joint working mechanism for invigorating trade with science and technology and strived to give play to the role of intellectual property system;

-- attended for the first time China Hi-Tech Fair, making 106 exhibitors sign the Shenzhen convention on intellectual property rights (IPR) protection;

-- set up with the State Food and Drug Administration mechanism of periodic meeting to guide medicine manufacturers to seek room for development, rationally avoid infringement, and maximally protection the national interest;

-- joined the national joint conference for the protection of biological species resources for losses to be checked as soon as possible;

-- made itself a member of the organizing committee of 2010 Shanghai Expo, actively participated in drawing up and enforcing relevant laws and policies.

Crack down on fake products and tighten enforcement

In March 2004 after a circular promulgated by the National Office of Rectification and Standardization of Market Economic Order, the State Intellectual Property Office put forward specific requirements for local authorities.

Shanghai city launched joint examination and reported to foreign consuls there on the city's IPR protection.

Guangdong Province organized special enforcement actions at Guangzhou Spring Fair and made innovation in enforcement mechanism. Concentrated examinations were conducted in shopping centers and commodity distribution centers during March and April 2004, with intellectual property-related cases handled and efficiency enhanced.

The national intellectual property authority drafted regulations on job-related invention-creation, Regulations on Patent Commissioning (Amendment Draft), compiled reference for legislation on job-related invention-creation, promulgated Rules of Administration Review, Measures Governing the Compulsory License To Patent Implementation and Measures on the Administrative Enforcement of Patent. Annulled 26 departmental regulations. Conducted inspections with the enforcement delegation of the National People's Congress of Sichuan, Guangxi and Hubei and offered specific guidance to the local work.

Over the past three years, local intellectual property authorities completed 3, 422 of the total 3, 933 cases handled; dealt with 3, 965 cases concerning false patent and 358 concerning imitating others' patents. The tightened enforcement played a positive role in protecting the interests of patent owners and the public as well as maintaining the market order.

Launch publicity on IPR and strengthen international cooperation

As was required at the national patent working conference, the State Intellectual Property Office strengthened publicity on intellectual property. At the opportunity of "4.26" World Intellectual Property Day, it launched "IPR Protection Publicity Week";

-- organized Chinese children's painting exhibition in Geneva during the 40th Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization);

-- made a feature on China's IPR protection in company with Vice Premier Wu Yi to the 15th session of the China-US Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade;

-- head of the State Intellectual Property Office made wide introduction on China's IPR protection system to nationals and foreigners from all walks of life and made clear the nation's firm stance in the respect.

Proceeding from safeguarding the interests of China and other developing countries, the authority expounded China's stance and boosted its influence during the formulation and amendment of Patent Cooperation Treaty, Substantive Patent Law Treaty and other international rules.

-- promoted intellectual property cooperation between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the cooperation and development in Asia-Pacific region in this field;

-- signed with Italy inter-government cooperation agreement on intellectual property, actively substantiated that between China and France;

-- strengthened the strategic partnership with European Patent Office and expanded the scope of cooperation.