China to beef up IPR protection, boost high-quality development

China's protection of intellectual property rights will be strengthened over the next five years to further bolster the country's high-quality development and effectively stimulate innovation, according to IPR officials.

"Administrative, legal and joint protection of IPR will all be strengthened during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, while protection for new forms of business and new fields will also be improved," said Zhang Zhicheng, head of the China National Intellectual Property Administration's IPR Department.

Zhang gave details to media on Monday of an IPR protection and application plan recently released by the State Council, China's Cabinet.

Efforts will be made to amend the Trademark Law and promote the drafting of a law on geographical indications. More attention will also be given to improving the technical investigation system and greater IPR protection in industries such as e-commerce and exhibitions, Zhang said.

"We'll also strictly oppose those who apply for patents in improper ways and malicious trademark registrations to increase IPR protection at the root," he added.

Zhang highlighted the significance of more comprehensive IPR protection, saying it is a major goal identified in the IPR plan issued by the central government last week.

Shen Changyu, head of the administration, said advancing full IPR protection will stimulate innovation. The plan set six special projects to meet this goal, including offering stronger protection for trade secrets and new varieties of plants, Shen said.

The plan also called for more research and study of IPR protection in new areas due to the rapid growth of the digital economy, he said.

"While we've been benefiting from online shopping, online education, working from home and intelligent healthcare in recent years, especially during the ongoing pandemic, such new lifestyles have also posed challenges to IPR protection in the digital industry," he said.

"If we want long-term and stable development of the digital economy, we have to solve IPR-related problems in this regard. Only in this way, can our data properly flow, be fully used and effectively protected," he added.

Rules reviewing patents relating to the internet, big data and AI industries will be improved, Zhang said. He also pledged to help core technologies transform into real productive forces and explore how to protect digital IPR through legislation.

Measures will also be taken to solve the difficulties in strengthening IPR protection in cyberspace. "We'll increase international cooperation on IPR, making IPR rules in big data and AI industries," Zhang said.

China has issued several key documents involving IPR development, protection and application in recent months, showing the country's greater determination to tackle infringements.

In September, China released a long-term IPR plan, setting goals and mapping out a number of tasks on protecting IPR and developing relevant industries in the next 15 years.