China’s State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) is set to be restructured, with its new responsibilities to include trademarks and geographical indicators. China’s government approved the restructuring plan during its first session of the National People’s Congress on March 13. The reform plan will integrate SIPO’s duties with that of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) in relation to trademark management, and that of the Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) in relation to geographical indications. Duties of the reconstructed SIPO will include the acceleration of the establishment of a protection system for IP rights, the granting and adjudication of trademarks, patents, and geographical indicators, and the supervision of related law enforcement. A new State Market Supervision Administration is to be established to manage SIPO. It will incorporate the functions of SAIC, AQSIQ, and the State Food and Drug Administration.

Source: WIPR