Nanjing People's Procuratorate recently conducted an investigation into intellectual property protection in Nanjing high-tech companies and software parks. As an outcome of visits, questionnaires and forums carried out by the Procuratorate, a report of An Analysis and Recommendation on Nanjing Intellectual Property Protection was thus issued.

Over 90% high-tech enterprises once suffered from IPR infringement

Due to the rapid development of software and high-tech companies, a series of technical patents and business secrets with indigenous intellectual property have come into being. Taking software industry for example, there are two software parks with five software bases which accommodate more than 1,400 software companies, providing 150,000 jobs. Intellectual property right is the factor influencing the development of software and high-tech companies.

According to the report, all 30 companies being visited were or are suffering from IPR infringement; 90% of 130 companies receiving questionnaire were once puzzled by it. Companies need IPR protection.

Unbalanced IPR protection awareness in companies

It is found that medium and large sized companies are usually equipped with stronger IPR protection awareness, which is greatly attributed to their sound protection measures and professional IPR protection teams. Comparatively, small sized companies are weak with IPR protection awareness, and some even know little about IP. Some employees brought patents and business secrets out from their former companies, but they paid no attention to such illegal behaviours.

In addition, deficiencies in law, enforcement and administration all pose threat to IPR protection in Nanjing.

On this account, Nanjing Procuratorate launched a series of IPR protection activities. It outlined plans to strengthen publicity, enhance service, regulate enforcement and advance training. To improve enterprises' IP awareness, the Procuratorate especially issued a Guidebook to Intellectual Property Risk Prevention.

(Source:IPR in China)