Decade after strategy implementation, different look of IPR protection in China (Part 2)

In the past ten years, China has seen remarkable progress in the implementation of IP strategy.The number of IP cases of first instance heard by courts at all levels increased from 22,000 in 2007 to 200,000 in 2017. As of the end of 2016, a total of 31,500 enterprises had passed the check on installation of authorized software in their working computers. All the headquarters of 102 central state-owned enterprises realized the usage of authorized software while 97.36% of their subsidiaries and 70.15% of Chinese financial institutions followed suit. As a result, rampant tendency of piracy of software, films and television programs is contained, greatly improving the business climate. Foreign applications for invention patents in China keep growing, with a bunch of multinational enterprises established R&D centers in China. China has become a significant part in global innovation and IPR serves an important bridge for China to promote international innovation and trade cooperation.

IPR awareness among the public has been improved remarkably while the social morals of respecting and protecting IPR have taken shape. The rate of the public knowledge of IP strategy increased from 3.7% in 2008 to 85.3% in 2017.

Benefit of IP application is rising constantly. From 2009 to 2016, the number of patents assignments increased from 34,000 to 155,000, and the number of trademark assignments nationwide increased from 72,200 to 168,900. The number of patent financing increased from 7.46 billion in 2009 to 72 billion in 2017. From 2008 to 2017, the amount of trademark pledge raised from 5.119 billion to 36.9 billion. During the "12th Five-year Programme" period, the total amount of copyright financing rose to 13.648 billion.

A batch of essential intellectual properties were formed and commercialized in a series of pillar industries of the national economy and emerging industries of strategic importance, such as new-generation mobile communications, high-speed trains, UHV transmission and nuclear electricity, which supported the industries in stepping towards the high end. The grant and protection of geographical indication products has become an important force in promoting the development of modern agriculture and enabling farmers to get rich. Cultural and creative industries boom under the protection of copyright. Meanwhile, Chinese works step into oversea cultural markets in a faster and more steady fashion.

International influence of IP is enhanced prominently. China has signed up to 171 bilateral and multilateral cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding with 63 countries, regions and international organizations, and established formal cooperative relationships with 50 members of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Actively promoting the establishment of cooperation mechanism among IP institutions from countries and regions along the 'Belt and Road', China concluded an agreement to work together with WIPO in this area when WIPO Director General Francis Gurry was invited to an international cooperation forum of the relevant countries in 2007. (Continued from June 13th)(by Jiang Jianke, People's Daily, June 6th)