China goes online to host national IP week

12th annual event to promote protection, awareness, focus on health, green future

To celebrate World Intellectual Property Day, which falls on April 26, a weeklong IP campaign is being held across China, with its opening ceremony performed online on Monday.

The National IP Publicity Week 2020 is aimed at increasing awareness among the public and creating a friendly climate for China to build itself into an IP powerhouse, organizers said.

The event revolves around the theme of "IP and a healthy China", which was inspired by that of this year's World Intellectual Property Day－Innovate for a Green Future－and based on the needs for the novel coronavirus prevention and control, Shen Changyu, commissioner of the National Intellectual Property Administration, said in a video message at the opening ceremony.

Amid the health crisis, the online opening ceremony would reduce gatherings and attract a wider audience, he added.

IP and human health have close relations, Shen noted, adding that NIPA has launched a series of IP facilitation remedies in the wake of the epidemic, such as creating a green channel to process related patent applications, and releasing patent reports to assist the research and development in pharmaceuticals and healthcare industries.

An information sharing platform developed by NIPA has also been put online, focusing on patented technologies that can be used in the fight against the epidemic.

Enhanced IP protection can encourage the research and development of new drugs and medical equipment, thus promoting innovation in the pharmaceutical industry and improving medical services, Shen said. "Better protection of traditional Chinese medicine is conducive to TCM's unique role in medical treatment and disease prevention," he added.

In addition, NIPA emphasizes fostering new plant varieties and geographical indications to create agricultural brands and ensure food safety; protecting trademarks, copyrights and logos to promote the healthy growth of culture and sports industries; and preserving heritage resources, he said.

Francis Gurry, director-general of the World Intellectual Property Organization, told the audience in a video message: "Science and technology ... have a vital role to play in the encouragement of green innovation. IP also has a vital role in encouraging innovation and the investment in innovation in green technology."

"China has been consistently a constructive member of the international IP community," he said.

Gurry recognized the Chinese government's efforts in promoting IP creation, protection and utilization over years, as is evidenced by "an extraordinary rise in the use of the services of WIPO by Chinese enterprises and individuals".

The latest WIPO data show that last year, China for the first time overtook the United States to become the largest source of international applications filed via the Patent Cooperation Treaty.

The US had retained the top position since the PCT system began in 1978, according to WIPO.

With some 6,400 international trademark applications via the Madrid system, another IP service offered by WIPO, China was the third-largest trademark filing country last year, Gurry said.

China has held the annual IP week for 12 consecutive years. During this year's event, organized by multiple central government departments, nearly 50 activities are being held nationwide.

These include a news conference on China's IP developments in 2019, held by NIPA and the National Copyright Administration on Thursday; a report on the country's IP protection and business environment, released by the State Administration for Market Regulation; typical cases on the crackdown on IP-related crimes, unveiled by the Ministry of Public Security; and an annual IP case report released by the Supreme People's Court.