With the Shanghai Expo approaching, protecting the IP rights of exhibitors is key to ensuring a successful event, according to organizers.

The city's IP protection will have a direct bearing on China's image and investment environment, said Lu Guoqiang, director of the Municipal Intellectual Property Office.

Since 2005, local authorities have undertaken more than 180 World Expo research projects and applied for 289 patents.

"But the patent number is not very satisfactory", Lu said. "To ensure intellectual property protection for exhibitors, we recommend that the State Intellectual Property Office set up a streamlined process for World Expo projects to speed up review and authorization."

By the end of 2009, authorities dealt with 196 infringement cases, 75 percent of them last year, more than five times the number of 2008.

"There will probably be more infringements this year," said Qiu Yichuan, assistant secretary for Ministry of Justice at Shanghai World Expo Bureau. 
                                                                                                   Source: China Daily