A national campaign aimed to enhance public awareness on intellectual property (IP) rights was launched as officially announced by 25 central government departments including the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) and the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee at 10 a.m. on April 19.

China's modern IP regime has experienced an unprecedented development despite its young age, said SIPO Commissioner Tian Lipu, pointing out a continued rapid growth seen in IP filings, grants and registrations, as the system grows stronger and international cooperation becomes more extensive.

In 2012, patents granted for inventions hit 217 thousand, equal to 3.2 per every ten thousand population. That year also saw an accumulation of 7.65 million trademark registrations, including 6.4 million valid registered trademarks. 688 thousand copyright registrations for works and 139 thousand for software were achieved at the same time, both hitting historic high records. Filings for agricultural and forestry new plant varieties filings exceeded 10 thousand and 1 thousand respectively.

The achievements demonstrate a comprehensive improvement of business operators' ability in IP creation, utilization, protection and management, said Tian, who also told that IP's important role in national core competitiveness and the transfer of economic development mode would be further revealed.

Francis Gurry, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO), also sent a video to extend his congratulations on the launch of the national campaign. He said that the next generation of creation would belong to China, which has made tremendous achievements in commercializing its IP innovations based on inheritance of its rich historic and cultural heritage. In terms of patents and designs, SIPO has become the world's biggest IP office, while China's Trademark Office also surpassed its foreign counterparts in the field of trademarks.

Copyright industry has contributed as much as 10% to local GDP in some big cities in China, a great achievement that people should be proud of, said Gurry.

Themed as "Implementing IP strategies to support innovation-driven development", the 7-day long national campaign will be conducted around the country in the forms of consulting services, forums, lectures, open day activities, among others.

(Source:IPR in China)