Patent Law Amendment solicit public opinions in Beijing
SIPO held a meeting in Beijing to solicit public opinions on amendments to the Patent Law. Delegates from the National People’s Congress (NPC), Science, Culture and Health Committee, Law Committee of the NPC Standing Committee, Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council, local IP Offices, universities, enterprises and patent agencies attended the meeting.
The latest statistics showed that 30% of the patent holders have been involved in infringement disputes; however, only 10% of them took protective actions, indicating that public awareness of patent protection is still weak. Complicated evidence provisions, low compensation, high cost and unsatisfying results are among the long standing issues that have beleaguered efficient patent protection. Patent infringements dampen patent holders’ innovation passion and enthusiasm, disrupt the order of the market economy and suffocate the innovative environment. To solve these problems, establish and improve long term protection mechanisms, the amendment of the Patent Law has been listed on the 2012 State Legislation Working Agenda. SIPO will strive to propose justifiable and impartial amendments drafted on the basis of a full investigation and discussion.
China strengthen IP protection via judicial construction
The Annual Report on China’s Rule of Law was released on July 17th. According to the report, IP protection has progressed via the nation’s efforts to improve the legal system and upgrade law enforcement. By the end of 2011, the average number of invention patents held per every ten thousand people had reached 2.37, an increase of 40% over last year, as China maintains its first place world ranking for trademark registrations for a tenth consecutive year. According to the report, the government has carried out special operations to combat IP infringements through the production and sale of counterfeits. Over 90,000 cases of trademark infringement have been on file. Meanwhile, people’s courts at all levels will improve their ability to conduct IP cases, such as cases related to online works and intangible cultural heritages, and courts will also strive to accelerate the healthy development of cultural industry.
Chinese Vice Premier urges further piracy crackdowns
Vice Premier Wang Qishan addressed a national meeting with a demand for further crackdowns on piracy so as to protect the innovative environment and boost the country’s soft power. The government has maintained a crackdown on breaches of intellectual property rights and uncovered a series of major piracy cases in the first half of this year, Wang told the gathering. Local government agencies have been ordered to use legitimate software and a related nationwide inspection has been conducted, he said, noting that the work is “lasting, arduous and complicated.”
Efforts should be made to step up crackdowns on shoddy agricultural materials, pharmaceuticals and equipment in rural areas, as well as faked trademarks, patents and software, in order to protect the legal rights and interests of consumers and enterprises, according to the vice premier.
2012 global innovation index was launched
WIPO launched the 2012 Global Innovation Index (GII) in Geneva on July 3rd. According to the report, Switzerland, Sweden, and Singapore remain the top three countries last year. Hong Kong and Mainland China ranked 8th and 34th respectively. China was on the top of the Global Innovation Efficiency Index list, followed by India, the Republic of Moldova and Malta. GII was firstly released by the European Institute of Business Administration (INSEAD) in 2007 and thereafter released annually. This year marks the first time the report was launched in joint effort by INSEAD and WIPO.
China’s one millionth patent issued in Beijing
On July 16th, a ceremony was held in Beijing as China’s one millionth invention patent was issued. China spent only 26 years to achieve this goal, the fastest of any country in the world. It is reported that the one millionth patent uses 3-D technology to help agricultural researchers analyze and assist crop growth, which will mainly be applied in the agricultural science field. In comments during the ceremony, Tian Lipu, Commissioner of the SIPO, recalled that the first Chinese invention patent certificate was issued to the No. 207 Institute of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation in 1986. With the continuously growing innovative awareness of the Chinese public, invention patent applications step into the phase of rapid growth. By the end of the second quarter of 2012, up to 3.11 million invention patent applications had been filed. As of July 11th, SIPO had issued 100 million invention patent certificates, of which 518,000 were to domestic applicants.
Shanghai aims to be Asian IP center
Shanghai, as the Chinese mainland’s financial center, also aims to lead the Asia-Pacific region in terms of intellectual property by 2020, according to the city’s IP strategy. China has developed a more mature IP system that is adapted to its own specific situations and now needs to have a greater voice in international rulemaking, said Lv Guoqiang, chief of the city’s IP office. The number of patent applications in Shanghai grew at an average annual rate of 24% and the average annual growth in the number of registered patents was 30% from 2004 to 2010. Patent applications from the city reached around 80,000 filings last year, 45,000 of which were granted.
