China joins hands with Germany in IPR protection during exhibitions

Recently, 24 Chinese exhibition team organization units signed the Memo of IPR Protection Cooperation with Germany's Koelnmesse International GmbH (hereafter, Koelnmesse), the largest exhibition company in Europe, vowing to strengthen communications and exchanges in IPR-related issues, encourage fair competition and object IPR infringement during exhibitions. It is the first time for Chinese exhibition team organization units to sign IPR protection agreement with a foreign exhibition company.

According to the memo, which came into effect after it was signed, the signatory Chinese units should abide by related German laws and regulations, and implement the commitments made at the agreements. During exhibitions, Koelnmesse will set up special consultation center to supply information related to IPR to all team organization units and enterprises participating in the exhibitions. Meanwhile, Koelnmesse will also cooperate with related governmental departments to timely and effectively punish those IPR violators, and take measures to prevent its repetition. The memo clearly stipulates that given an enterprise participating in the exhibitions violates IPR, it will face the punishments of being sorted out of the exhibitions, closing the exhibition stands and being objected in future exhibitions. In case of being sued, the violator will offer related expenditures for the judicial proceedings.

Koelnmesse is the world fourth largest exhibition company with large quantities of overseas exhibitors and audiences worldwide. With more than 3,500 Chinese exhibitors and 6,000 audiences coming to its exhibitions, China has become the company's most important participator outside the European Union.