IP protection centers

While improving the legal framework, the administration has established 77 national IP protection centers to provide businesses with comprehensive IP services. Among these, 62 centers have offered preexamination services for AI-related patents to more than 21,000 registered enterprises and institutions.

Last year, these centers received 46,000 pre-examination requests for AI patents, with 31,000 patents granted through quick review channels, "which significantly supported the high-quality development of the AI industry", according to Shen.

Considering that AI technologies involve many other fields, such as new-generation information technology, new materials and high-end equipment manufacturing, Shen underlined that IP protection must also meet the diverse needs of different fields.

"We've stepped up efforts to boost collaborative IP protection systems with other authorities," he said, noting that courts, procuratorates, public security bureaus and customs have been invited to set up offices in 33 of the national IP protection centers.

"This move is conducive to improving the timeliness, coordination and effectiveness of administrative and judicial IP protection in emerging fields like AI," he added.

Shen called for local governments and industrial associations to join the IP protection team in order to better embrace fast-developing AI-related technologies and effectively address new challenges.

Tian Zhaosen contributed to this story.

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn