Over 33,000 applications for assistance in IP protection were addressed; over 43,000 consultation were provided; over 1,000 public seminars and training activities on IP rights were organized; 9,384 references on IP infringement determination were provided; and 203 IP mappings and warnings were conducted. The statistics demonstrate the remarkable effectiveness of IP protection in 2020.

    According to the person in charge of the relevant work of the IP Protection Department of the CNIPA, in 2020, the CNIPA has comprehensively promoted the IP protection around the country and promoted the development of China's intellectual property rights to a new level by strengthening the top-level design and integrating the resources for IP protection.

    Pooling Resources for Steady Progress

    In 2020, the IP protection centers and the rapid rights protection centers across the nation conducted nearly 5,000 cases of mediations in IP disputes, provided assistance in IP protection more than 2,400 times and assisted in the enforcement of law 17,000 times. The outstanding achievement cannot be done without the IP protection system. As of the end of 2020, a total of 76 IP protection centers, 40 IP protection centers, and 22 rapid rights protection centers have been established across the country, all of which can provide comprehensive IP protection services.

    The construction of IP protection institutions has continued to advance, and resources for IP protection are gradually being integrated. At present, 194 universities and 386 non-governmental organizations are involved in the service of IP protection. There are also over 5,200 volunteers for IP protection and more than 5,100 experts in IP protection. The force of public participation for IP protection is becoming increasingly strong. The above have all provided important support for IP protection.

    Integrating resources for IP protection and creating the synergy of social governance, IP protection was carried out in an orderly manner in various regions, and the key tasks of the work received great results. Beijing has provided micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises with IP protection services through the online presentation of standardized courseware and online livestream. Guangdong has improved the construction of an overseas IP protection system by establishing a working mechanism for collecting, publishing and utilizing information on overseas IP protection. Jiangsu has included IP protection into the business environment assessment index system, making the assessment of business environment an important indicator for IP protection in the province. Zhejiang connected the results of the local centers' performance evaluation with the their rewards and subsidies for IP protection, and used the performance evaluation to promote the work of the IP protection centers.

    Efforts on All Fronts with Many Highlights

    IP protection is an important method to serve the public and for innovation subjects to protect their IP rights. It is also a vital aspect for the formation of the IP great protection. In June 2020, the CNIPA issued the Guidance on Further Strengthening the Assistance of Intellectual Property Rights Protection to provide guidance for IP protection. The various agencies of IP protection have made efforts on all fronts to expand their service scope. They have also been working on new targets, areas and modes of IP protection such as micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises and overseas IP protection.

    In order to protect the rights of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, the China (Ningbo) Intellectual Property Protection Center has used information technology to launch a free "early warning of IP risks and custom management service" for enterprises. After application, enterprises can receive a monthly IP protection report, so that they can keep track of their own IP situation and keep abreast of their competitors' IP developments. This service can also help solve the IP management problems of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises.

    In terms of providing IP protection to e-merchants, the China (Zhejiang) E-commerce Patents Enforcement Collaborative Center has explored the formation of a joint protection mechanism between IP protection agencies and e-commerce platforms by improving the enforcement and IP protection mechanism and enhancing the offline and online collaborative IP protection mechanism. Since the establishment of the center, 25 provincial-level administrative regions and 10 cities have participated in the mechanism, carrying out many special operations and collaborating in the handling of 74,000 cases.

    In order to promote the sharing of resources and information for overseas IP protection, and to provide protection for enterprises "going abroad", China (Guangdong) Intellectual Property Protection Center, Intellectual Property Service Center under China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and other nine enterprises and institutions jointly established the Guangdong Overseas Intellectual Property Protection Promotion Association, connecting the government, enterprises, non-governmental organizations, service institutions and other parties to provide overseas IP consulting and training services, so as to help Chinese enterprises "go global".

    In terms of providing IP protection for exhibitions, the China (Shanghai) Intellectual Property Rights Protection Center has been stationed at the China International Import Expo for three consecutive years since 2018, carrying out IP publicity, handling IP disputes related to the exhibition and providing legal advice and other IP protection services. During the epidemic, the center explored the new model of online IP protection for exhibitions per the requirements of epidemic prevention and control. Namely, to offer IP services to exhibitors, it set up online IP service points and provided consultation, answers and mediation online.

    The achievements of IP protection in China in 2020 is assuring. The the person in charge of the IP Protection Department of the CNIPA stated that, in the new development stage, the CNIPA will further enhance the system, mechanism, regulations, and building of talent teams of IP protection while providing stronger support. The CNIPA will also guide localities to continuously improve the mechanism of IP protection, promote equal access to IP protection services, and gain recognition from the society for its performance in IP protection.(Translated from CNIPA Website Chinese Version)

    Source: CNIPA