National appraisal of big events and influential individuals in IP protection

Recently, three authorities in China including the State Intellectual Property Office, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce and the National Copyright Administration, have jointly carried out an appraisal of big events and influential individuals in national IP protection, aiming to step up the publicity of IP protection, promote the implementation of national IP strategies and enhance the exemplary role of the influential individuals.

According to an official from SIPO, 20 major events (cases) and 10 influential individuals of 2010 will be selected and awarded in the appraisal. The eligibility requirements for  major events enrolled include great accomplishments achieved in IPR (such as patent, trademarks and copyright) development, or constitution and amendment of IP policies and legislations, or impressive results achieved in administrative or judicial IP protection.

People who are qualified to be voted as the influential individuals have to be representative figures that have achieved great accomplishments in the constitution or amendment of IP legislations and policies, or made great contributions to the creation, implementation, protection and management of intellectual property rights as well as to the academic and theoretical study of intellectual property. Furthermore, the candidates have to be staff in administrative and judicial departments, enterprises, institutions and social organizations.

It is learnt that the appraisal process would be divided into four steps: recommendation, examination, review by the judgment committee and publication of the results. The appraisal activity will be conducted by the Patent Protection Association of China (PPAC), China Trademark Association and the Copyright Society of China, and will be supported by relevant administrations including China Intellectual Property News.