The Chinese government has begun to take concrete
measures to help domestic enterprises better deal with international disputes
related to intellectual property rights since the beginning of the year, in a
bid to protect the nation's fundamental benefits and economic security.
Since China's entry into the World Trade Organization, large Chinese
enterprises have been involved in more than 20 international patent disputes. In
one of the major cases, the US-based company Cisco sued China's network company
Huawei Technologies for infringement of several of its intellectual property
rights.
The number of patent infringement-related cases is increasing and so is the
amount of money paid by Chinese enterprises which are involved but have little
knowledge about how to deal with suchcircumstances, according to the State
Intellectual Property Officeunder the State Council, China's cabinet.
The office is establishing emergency and warning mechanisms to protect the
legal rights and interests of Chinese enterprises in this field.
From 2004, the State Intellectual Property Office will ask somedepartments to
keep a close eye on information and disputes relating to intellectual property
rights, make analyses, send warning messages to relevant governmental
departments, guilds and enterprises, and put forward solutions, said Deputy
Director ZhangQin.
The office will make efforts this year to help enterprises build and improve
systems managing intellectual property rights, so as to promote their capability
in safeguarding such rights.
It will also facilitate the establishment of intellectual property right
agencies, and train a number of agents and lawyers familiar with international
rules, laws and practices concerning intellectual property rights.
Promoting the commercialization of technologies based on China's own
intellectual property rights and enhancing law enforcement are also on this
year's work agenda of the office.
Experts estimate that each year, China's universities train about 1,000 students
in the profession of intellectual property rights. Less than 5 per cent
of all students in 11 major universities select intellectual property right
courses, accordingto a survey conducted by the State Intellectual Property
Office.
"It is therefore urgent to train high-level talented professional versed in
rules and regulations in this field," said Zhang Qin, the deputy director.
The State Intellectual Property Office has made plans to cultivate hundreds
of senior professionals familiar with international rules, thousands of talented
people engaging in patent management, appraisal and law enforcement, and tens of
thousands of people working for enterprises and agencies in this field.
In the first 11 months of 2003, Chinese courts handled 5,750 intellectual property
lawsuits, an increase of 24.57 per cent year on year.
China could face more international trade disputes during its economic
integration into the global economy, said Xiao Yang, president of the Supreme
People's Court.
