1. Beijing
Protection for artwork
Government officials and scholars called for stronger copyright protection of calligraphy and paintings at a recent meeting between the National Copyright Administration and the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Yan Xiaohong, vice-director of the NCA, said despite overall achievements in battling piracy in China, efforts to fight the production of counterfeit calligraphy and paintings have fallen short. Famed painter Du Dakai suggested the establishment of college courses on how to distinguish counterfeit artwork.
People.com.cn
Fake liquor packaging
Police in Changping district arrested three suspects late last month and seized 70,000 fake packages - complete with anti-counterfeit marks - for the upmarket Chinese liquors including Moutai and Wuliangye. With a potential retail value of more than 1 million yuan ($160,443), the packaging was purchased online from Guangzhou and Zhejiang provinces and then sold to counterfeit alcohol makers and sellers, said police.
Beijing Youth Daily
2. Liaoning
Platform patents
Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co Ltd recently acquired authorization from a US firm for two patents used in offshore drilling platforms. DSIC's JU-2000E platform is designed to work in seas up to 120 meters deep and drill more than 9,000 m under the ocean floor. It now has 15 orders for the platform, including six from the Norwegian offshore exploration company Seadrill Ltd. Two of them will be delivered by June 2015, according to a contract signed last month.
finance.glinfo.com
3. Tianjin
New patent record
According to the latest data from the State Intellectual Property Office, a new record in the city was set last year when more than 20,000 patents were granted, an increase of 43 percent over 2011, bringing the inventory of valid patents to more than 52,300. Small high-tech businesses now have about half of the total. Some 2,800 small companies in Tianjin filed their first patent application in 2012.
Tianjin Daily
4. Shandong
Seized items to needy
Yantain customs recently donated more than 7,000 seized items including shoes, handbags and men's trousers to the provincial Red Cross Society to help impoverished families and the vulnerable, said officials. Customs regulations permit illicit items to be auctioned, destroyed, purchased by rightful owners or donated to charity. Yantai customs investigated some 170 infringements in 2012 involving more than 20 famous brands.
Qilu Evening News
5. Taiwan
Top publishing source
Taiwan became the top overseas partner for Beijing-based electronic book, game and video publishers last year, supplanting South Korea, source of most authorized material in 2011. In 2012, 15 Beijing companies, nine of them privately owned, produced 63 electronic products first developed in overseas countries and regions. About a quarter of them came from Taiwan, followed by the United States and South Korea.
China Press and Publishing Journal
(China Daily 02/27/2013 page17)
