The result of 2007 China Top Ten IPR Events issued

To mark the World IP Day on April 26 and China IPR Week last week, the website of Intellectual Property Protection in China (IPR in China) has announced the result on the vote for 2007 China Top Ten IPR Events.

On the basis of opinions from IPR experts and related governmental departments, the website primarily selected 30 candidate events from all the recommended ones, and then carried out public voting and experts’ appraisal.

World IP Day is an initiative of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and has been celebrated annually on April 26 since its inception in 2001. The day is primarily a chance to reflect on the importance of human innovation and celebrate the important role that IP plays in our daily lives.

The event is also supported by mainstream media including China Daily, Central China Television's Law Today program and China News Service.

Here are the top ten IPR events for last year:

(1)Hu Jintao noted on the National IPR Strategy

General Secretary Hu Jintao pointed out to implement the National IPR Strategy in the Report to the 17th National Congress on October 15, 2007. The drafting of the strategy is on the final stage and the deliberation of 20 research reports included in the strategy is done. The 20 topics and one guideline cover the system building, law enforcement, talent training and public awareness regarding the IPR protection. The strategy is expected to be implemented throughout the country soon.

(2) National IP protection plan launched

The National Working Group for Intellectual Property Rights Protection launched the 2007 national IP protection plan on April 2, 2007. Compared with the plan for the year before, the new plan has added 72.5 percent more measures. The new plan included 276 measures in 10 aspects such as IP related legislation, law enforcement, publicizing, training, international collaboration and service. With the strict implementation, altogether 268 measures or 97 percent of the total were accomplished.

(3) China patent applications reach 4 mln

By December 24, 2007, China has accepted over one million patent applications in the past 18 months, bringing the total to four million since 1985 when the country's Patent Law took effect. Statistics from the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) showed that patent applications accepted by SIPO reached one million after 15 years. It took 50 months for the figure to reach two million, and only 27 months for three million.

Of the latest one million patent applications accepted, about 60.8 percent were filed by Chinese applicants. Among the first one million patent applications, only 47.8 percent were filed by Chinese applicants.

(4) China trademark registration hit 3 mln

As of the end of 2007, China's trademark registration has totaled 3.04 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 29.19 percent. In 2007 alone, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce has accepted 708,000 applications, topping the world for six consecutive years. The applications from the overseas enterprises kept an annual growth of 6.1 percent, reaching 103,000, accounting for 14.5 percent of the total. Such a growth shows not only the robust and healthy local economy but also the trust in China’s IP protection from foreign investors.

(5) National conference on genuine software convened

The National Working Conference on Genuine Software was held in Beijing. By the end of 2007, over 1,500 large-scaled enterprises have implemented their installation of genuine software. Chinese Vice Premier and Leader of the National Working Group for Intellectual Property Rights Protection Wu Yi said the software industry is a basic and strategic industry for national economic development and is the key to the advancement of information technology. It is an important task to intensify software copyright protection, promote the use of genuine software and create a healthy and orderly market environment for the software industry.

(6) China Customs awarded for anti-counterfeit, piracy efforts

The World Customs Organization has for the first time awarded China Customs for their contribution in fighting against counterfeit goods and piracy. Cases that uncovered by the China Customs have been growing by over 30 percent each year. China Customs authorities uncovered more than 8,400 infringement cases valuing more than 1 billion yuan from 1995 to the end of March 2007.

(7) Notice on time-honored brand ICH released

To fulfill the Notice of the State Council on Strengthening Cultural Heritage Protection and to further consolidate the protection on intangible cultural heritage (ICH), the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Culture jointly released a notice on reinforcing protection of time-honored brand intangible cultural heritage.

The notice pointed out, general investigation on time-honored ICH is in the first place for protecting time-honored brands. In the process of carrying out investigation, focus shall be on the collection and classification of time-honored brands' traditional handicrafts and accomplishments, materials and articles. Meanwhile, representative inheritors of time-honored brands shall be the main target of receiving protection and support.

(8) SPC promulgates opinions on strengthening IPR trial

The Supreme People's Court promulgated the Opinions on Strengthening IPR Trial to Offer Judicial Guarantee for Construction of Innovation-oriented Country, which put forward a series of working opinions and specific measures.

The Opinions stipulate that in the future the standard of compensation for IPR infringement will be increased and civil punishment will be reinforced correspondingly.

(9) WCT and WPPT to come into forces

WIPO Copyright Treaty and WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty formally came into force as of June 9, 2007, which were approved by the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress on December 29, 2006. By then, China has joined six international treaties in the IPR field.

(10) China ratifies protocol amending WTO's TRIPS agreement

China announced to have ratified the Protocol Amending the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, a move it believed would afflict many developing countries, particularly the least-developed countries. By the end of December 2007, altogether 41 WTO members, including US, Switzerland, South Korea and India, have approved the agreement.