1 Beijing
2011's top IP events and people
The 10 key events, 10 major cases and 10 most influential people in China's IP in 2011 were announced late last month as selected by the State Intellectual Property Office, State Administration for Industry and Commerce and National Copyright Administration.
Landmark events included a nationwide crackdown on counterfeits that began in October 2010 and ended in June 2011.
Influential figures came from a wide range of fields including corporations, law enforcement, an association and a university.
First 'demonstration cities' named
SIPO unveiled China's first group of IP demonstration cities on April 27.
The majority of the 23 cities are in developed coastal regions, but the inland cities of Chengdu, Xi'an and Harbin are also on the list.
Selected from 104 candidate cities across the country, the finalists are home to "outstanding examples" of IP creation, use, protection and overall effort, said SIPO Commissioner Tian Lipu.
Information portal launched
The IP information portal www.iprchn.com was launched on April 27 as part of a weeklong campaign to mark World IP Day.
Operated by China Intellectual Property News, a newspaper affiliated with SIPO, the website has nine channels and more than 30 sections covering a wide range of subjects from patents and trademarks to copyrights.
Patent query system now online
A SIPO patent query system went online in late April with Deputy Commissioner Yang Tiejun leading a ceremony to mark the launch.
Securing, using and popularizing patent information is crucial to improving innovation, said SIPO Commissioner Tian Lipu.
"The system enables a query on a patent to be as convenient as getting flight information," he said.
The system helps "build a bridge for communication" linking SIPO with the public, applicants, patent holders and agencies, government officials said.
2 Shandong
Counterfeits seized by customs
In the first three months of the year Qingdao customs seized 141 shipments of counterfeited goods destined for both import and export.
The illegal cargo violated trademarks owned by 65 companies from 14 countries, said the customs office.
The largest proportion were machine bearings and textiles.
The surge in seized goods is closely related to the booming export-oriented processing industry in the province and neighboring areas, according to customs officials.
The officials also noted that the office itself started more than 99 percent of the investigations into illegal goods, a statistic that shows weak awareness among legitimate trademark owners.
DAZHONG DAILY
3 Jiangsu
First patent insurance policy issued
PICC Property and Casualty Co Ltd issued the nation's first patent insurance last month with a policy for a chemical company in Zhenjiang.
By paying a 2,000 yuan ($317) premium per patent, Jiangsu Zhengdan Chemical Industry Co will receive coverage of up to 40,000 yuan for each patent to pay legal fees and investigation costs.
MODERN EXPRESS
4 Guangdong
Province leads nation in trademarks
Nearly 850,000 trademarks had been granted in the southern province by the end of 2011, accounting for 17.8 percent of China's total, enabling the province to top the country for 17 consecutive years, said Tao Kaiyuan, head of the provincial intellectual property office.
More than 167,000 trademark applications were granted last year, Tao said at a press conference.
At the same time, 78 local brands secured status as well-known trademarks, bringing Guangdong's total to 343.
SECUTIMES.COM
(China Daily 05/09/2012 page17)
