SAIC calls for promoting trademark implementation and IPR protection

Administrations for industry and commerce across China shall take the opportunity of the special crackdown on infringement of intellectual property rights to vigorously promote trademark implementation and intellectual property (IP) protection, emphasized by Liu Fan, Vice Minister of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC), in his speech on the working conference of the national administrations for industry and commerce across China to combat IP infringement. The meeting was held in Huairen, a city in Guizhou Province. Lu Zhiming, vice governor of the province, attended and addressed the meeting.

During the special campaign on fighting against IP infringement conducted by authorities for industry and commerce across China from October 2010 to March 2011, the administrations defined three work priorities (to combat infringements upon the rights of foreign brands and Chinese famous brands, curb malicious trademark registration and fight against illegal trademark printing and fake packing), targeted 12 regions and investigated 29 serious cases in three batches, due to which, IP violations have been effectively cracked down and the market environment has been significantly purified, according to Liu.

By February 11, the administrations for industry and commerce across China have dispatched enforcement officials for 1.59 million person-times, investigated 3.87 million business owners and 389 thousand markets, destroyed 2,955 sites for manufacturing and distributing fake commodities and revoked business licenses from 1,088 operators. During the actions, 38 thousand IP infringing cases have been filed, 150 million yuan have been confiscated and 253 cases have been transferred to judicial authorities. Besides, officials have dealt with 44 thousand public complaints and helped consumers retrieve 130 million economic losses. The significant achievement has aroused global attention and has been recognized by the Sino-Europe Dialogues.

Liu emphasized that relevant departments need to fully recognize the important role of intellectual property, enhance the promotion of trademark strategy in accordance with the national strategy and fiercely combat IP infringements in the special crackdown. Thorough investigation of cases that have direct bearings on public interests, such as those uncovered in food, drug and agriculture material industries, shall be a top priority; reinforced coordination is also necessary to deter criminal activities, Liu said.

Press and publication administration can also complement the enforcement authorities in the special crackdown by comprehensively promulgating the notion of IP protection and reporting on the progress achieved in the campaign via print media, video media and the Internet.

The combat against IP violations should be a long term task. To secure the outcome of enforcement actions, firstly, a sound legal system shall be established and the current Trademark Law and the Anti-unfair Competition Law shall be revised accordingly; next, tailored measures should be designed to address new and emerging problems; thirdly, joint efforts shall be made by administrative and judicial authorities to curb the distribution of IP infringing commodities.

The meeting was also attended by chiefs of industry and commerce departments from 27 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and 15 sub-provincial cities across the country.