During the third Chinese Tibetan Cultural Forum, Yang Zhi, the Vice Culture Minister and Vice President of China Association for Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture, said that in the 12th Five-year Period, the central government's special fund for the protection of intangible cultural heritage of Tibet will be inclined to support Tibet for the Representative Works of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Mankind Project and the protection and transmission of national intangible cultural heritage items.

Currently Tibet has 76 national intangible cultural heritage items and 53 representative successors of intangible cultural arts, whose 222 representative works have been granted status as intangible cultural items at the autonomous regional level.

Since 2005, the Ministry of Culture has appropriated 32.58 million Yuan as a special fund for the protection of Tibetan intangible cultural heritage, with an additional 30 million Yuan from the local government.

[Domestic]

1. Anhui: started 16 major projects on transfer of scientific and technological achievements

On August 8th, 16 major projects on transfer of scientific and technological achievements started. These projects were implemented by Anhui Science and Technology Department, SAC jointing 14 provincial enterprises. With a coinvestment of 1.86 billion Yuan, these projects are expected to bring extra sales revenue of 21.6 billion Yuan, profits and taxes 2.98 billion Yuan, and 140 patents.

2. Changsha: international IP applications topped the capital cities

In the first half of 2011, Changsha filed 157 PCT international patent applications; up 48.11% compared to the same period last year, amounting to 94% of the whole province. Changsha has now topped the capital cities in China for PCT applications. Technological achievements under the protection of international patents brought a total of 3.507 billion dollars in imports and exports in the first half of the year, up 39.2% compared to the same period last year, and 13.3% higher than the average national increase percentage.

3. Zhongshan: ICH Museum opens

Zhongshan Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum plans to open on October 9th. As designed, it will present Zhongshan folk dance, folk music, folk customs and traditions to the public while preserving their original features. The museum aims at evoking people to co-guardian their spiritual home through a presentation of the living state of intangible cultural heritage.

4. Zhejiang: Longjing Tea approved as geographical mark

The application of West Lake Longjing Tea Industry Association on February 2nd for registration of a geographical mark was audited and approved by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce Trademark Office. West Lake Longjing Tea enjoys a long history which dates back to the Tang Dynasty, and has been valued as a famous tea dating back to the Ming Dynasty. The protection base of The West Lake Longjing Tea plantation covers 16,740 acres, with 9,233 local resident households and 69 tea companies responsible for cultivation of the annual tea harvest.

5. Beijing: Guiding Regulations on Overseas Intellectual Property Early-warning for Beijing Enterprises

The Beijing Municipal Intellectual Property Office recently issued the Guiding Regulations on Overseas Intellectual Property Early-warning for Beingjing Enterprises, in order to help enterprises in Beijing to enter overseas markets and accelerate the establishment of an Overseas Intellectual Property Early-warning System. The Regulation provides four approaches for enterprises to build patent early-warning working teams, including data retrieval and filter, data comparative analysis, IPR infringement analysis and risk averse.

[International]

1. Musicians win copyright extension to 70 years

Musicians secured longer copyright protection of their work in Europe, bringing much needed help to artists and record labels as music revenues have declined, and bringing Europe closer into line with the United States. The legislation, known as “Cliff 's law,” named after its most high-profile campaigner, extends copyright on music recordings from 50 years to 70 years.

2. Firm sues Gov't over trademark

Czech Point 101, which has been offering real estate and property management services since 2003, claims the Interior Ministry has infringed its trademark by using the name Czech POINT to denote a national network of more than 6,600 offices that provide one-stop shops for various government documents. The court must decide if confusion exists over the trademarks.

3. Apple sues Samsung Electronics in Japan over patents

On September 8th, 2011, Apple sued Samsung Electronics in Japan over alleged patent violations relating to the iPhone and iPad. California-based Apple is seeking a suspension of sales of Samsung's handsets in Japan, as well as 100 million yen (1.6 million dollars) in damages. The suit is the latest in a series of patent battles between the two firms which is being litigated in courts world wide.

4. U.S. Senate passes major patent system overhaul

The U.S. Senate passed on September 8th and sent to President Obama the first overhaul of the U.S. patent system in six decades.

Obama championed the legislation as a way to promote innovation and put Americans back to work. The Senate voted 89-9 for legislation that supporters say will streamline the patent process, reduce costly legal battles and give the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office the money it needs to process patent applications quickly.

5. Berlin marks 125th anniversary of automobile invention

Mercedes-Benz celebrated the 125th anniversary of its invention of automobile with what it claimed the largest gathering ever at the former Tempelh of airport in Berlin on September 10th. “Some 125 years ago, Carl Benz submitted his patent application for the Benz Patent Motor Car to the Patent Office in Berlin,” the organizer said, and now Mercedes- Benz is returning to Berlin to celebrate together with Berliners.

6. GTU to file 2,000 patents for its students

Gujarat Technological University (GTU) will apply for about 2,000 patents on behalf of its students at the end of the academic year. Creating a separate IPR program for filing the patents for its students, the university will become the first in the country to file patents on such a large scale.

7. Four arrested in Spain for illegal film distribution on Net

A Civil Guard operation in Valencia and Zaragoza has arrested four people for illegally distributing copyrighted films and TV series' on the Net without permission. The Civil Guard said that the operation followed a complaint from the Federation for the Protection of Intellectual Property (FAP) and the movies portal.