Heads of China and Switzerland Witness the Signing of IP MoUs
On January 16, President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping and President of the Swiss Confederation Doris Leuthard witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding Between the State Intellectual Property Office of the P.R.C and the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property in Berne, Switzerland. According to the MoU, the two sides will continue to strengthen indepth cooperation in areas such as IP legislation and management, patent examination, personnel training, exchange of patent documents, IP operation and public service.
Shanghai Issues Opinions on Accelerating the Development of the IPR Service Industry
Recently, Shanghai Intellectual Property Office, Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission and other governmental agencies jointly issued the Opinions on Accelerating the Development of the IPR Service Industry in Shanghai. The Opinions listed 20 detailed suggestions, including laying a solid foundation of IPR service industry, cultivating service market needs , improving the public service system, enhancing the marketization serving capability, promoting the industrial standardized developments and strengthening safeguard measures.
China Issues Plan to Develop Intellectual Property
The State Council has issued a plan to strengthen the protection and utilization of intellectual property rights. The plan specifies the goals and major tasks for the development of intellectual property during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), and proposes measures for the work. By 2020, China's invention patent ownership will increase from 6.3 per 10,000 people in 2015 to 12 per 10,000, and international applications will double to 60,000 from 30,000 in 2015, according to the plan.
The Supreme People's Procuratorate Issues a Guideline on Property Rights Protection
On January 9, 2017, the Supreme People' s Procuratorate of the PRC has issued a guideline on property rights protection, a move to support startup businesses and promote entrepreneurship. Based on the guiding principles released, the top prosecuting authority asked procuratorates at all levels to carry out their prosecuting duties to the fullest to protect property rights for individuals as well as a vast variety of entities.
China’s Trademark Office Announces New Standards of Trademark Review and Trial
On January 4, 2017, Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry & Commerce of the PRC released the revised Standards of Trademark Review and Trial (New Standards). The New Standards covers 10 parts, including review of marks which can not be identified as trademarks, review of the significant characteristics of trademarks etc. The standards of sound trademark review, the application standards of trial submission and other content has been added in the revised New Standards.
SIPO Releases Guidelines for Patent Guidance Program of Enterprises
The State Intellectual Property Office of the PRC enacted Implementation Guidelines for Operating Patent Guidance Program of Enterprises (Provisional), in order to implement the Opinions of the State Council on Building a Powerful Intellectual Property Nation under New Conditions, improve the working mechanism of the development of patent guidance industry, and conduct the operating patent guidance program of enterprises. SIPO Targets Relief of Overburdened Patent Processing System The State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) has taken steps to relieve the pressure on China's patent examinations system in the wake of the rapidly increasing number of applications in recent years. The steps include an optimization of the office's resources and workflow to address the problem of managing lengthy examination processes, which put additional pressure on the system.
Chinese Vice Premier Underlines Crackdown on Counterfeits
On January 16, Vice Premier Wang Yang said that the country should make new headway in the campaign against intellectual property right (IPR) infringement and counterfeit products. In 2016, Chinese authorities cracked more than 170,000 cases concerning IPR infringement and counterfeit products and arrested nearly 20,000 suspects. In the future, the country should reinforce cooperation among different regions, government departments and countries with a focus on major products, major areas and important links, Wang said.
State Council Official: China Should Deepen Reforms in IP Rights
On January 5, 2017, State Councilor Wang Yong inspected the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) and said China should still deepen reforms in intellectual property rights, despite the fact it has shown great improvement in the area in recent years. China should pilot comprehensive management reform, ease control on patent agencies and improve relevant public services. The country should create a fast channel for patent applications in emerging strategic industries and foster a vast number of high-value patents, Wang said.
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