Major acts in recent days (08-06-23)

'Timely, effective' work

China's Olympic IPR protection work is "timely and effective", according to a Chinese official with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

WIPO Assistant Director-General Wang Binying made the comments on the sidelines of the Sino-African Workshop for Heads of Intellectual Property Offices. She said that from the WIPO's perspective, the measures taken by the Chinese government on Olympic IPR protection are "fruitful" as well.

China says it has taken substantial measures to protect the Olympic intellectual property rights, for example, developing special regulations for Olympic symbols, establishing a relatively sound legal system for Olympic IPR protection.

Hubei patents buzzing

The cumulative total of patent applications in Hubei has exceeded 100,000, reaching 100,898 by the end of May 2008, according to the statistics of State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO).

In recent years, the provincial government has attached greater importance to IPR work. In March 2006, the government promulgated the "Opinions on Further Strengthening Intellectual Property Work", and in September 2006 the "Decision on Enhancing Capability of Independent Innovation and Building an Innovative Hubei", which have provided an important guarantee for IPR development.

Hubei says it has further improved its IPR policy system, promoted IPR work at all levels, strengthened intellectual property protection, consolidated IPR training and publicity, accelerated the use of intellectual property rights, and laid a solid foundation for the coordinated and rapid development of the IPR cause in the province.

Pirated textbooks

Hebei Provincial Office of Anti-pornography and Anti-illegal Publications, Bureau of Press and Publication, Education Department and 15 publishing units recently began a special campaign against pirated textbooks in the province.

The campaign investigated private and medical schools, textbook producers and wholesale and retail units. After the campaign, law enforcers shut down an unspecified number of wholesale and retail units of pirated textbooks and punished an unidentified number of publishing, producing and printing units engaged in printing pirated textbooks. The campaign also concluded an unspecified number of cases of using pirated textbooks, punished an unspecified number of law breakers engaged in piracy activities and explored illegal producing, printing and storage underground markets.

China-Africa IPR

The five-day Workshop for Heads of Intellectual Property Offices was held in Beijing last week. The forum is in response to "China's African Policy" released by the government in 2006 that calls for a new type of strategic partnership with Africa based on political equality, mutual trust, economic cooperation and cultural exchanges. Representatives of WIPO and IPR institutions of 17 African nations and China are gathering at the forum to discuss intellectual property development.

SIPO Commissioner Tian Lipu pointed out that after 30 years' of reform and opening up, China has established a relatively comprehensive IPR protection system, and accumulated some experience in exploring IPR laws and policies in line with national conditions. SIPO is willing to work together with the developing countries for common prosperity and progress.

Bootleg liquor destroyed

The Economic Investigation Detachment of Hohhot Municipal Public Security Bureau and the Trade and Industry Administration last week jointly destroyed 210,000-yuan worth of bootleg booze in the suburb.

According to the related principal, the Economic Investigation Detachment got clues of production and sale of hooch around the Jinchuan Development Zone and captured the suspect at the den. 36 bottles of fake Moutai, 144 bottles of bogus Wuliangye, 108 bottles of bootleg JNC, 168 bottles of phony Swellfun and 24 bottles of illegal Guojiao were seized.

On June 4, an unidentfied suspect was arrested on suspicion of violating registered trademarks. It is reported that this is the largest case of producing and selling fake branded liquor in recent years.

SME training

The first phase of IPR training course for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) recently concluded in Wuhan, Hubei province.

The training course covered basic IPR knowledge, patent application and examination, retrieval of patent information, patent litigation, corporate IP strategy, patent early-warning and analysis and basic knowledge of trademark.

Jointly organized by the Wuhan Municipal Intellectual Property Office, Personnel Bureau and Economic Commission the training course lasted nearly two months.

SMEs in the city actively sent related personnel to participate in the training, indicating that SMEs have raised IPR awareness and improved atmosphere for IPR work. More than 800 people from 100 enterprises attended the training.