China Launches 2014 National IPR Publicity Week

On April 21, the 2014 national IPR publicity week, jointly held by SIPO, Ministry of Commerce and other 22 departments was launched on people.com.cn. SIPO Commissioner Shen Changyu and WIPO Director General Francis Gurry gave a video speech respectively.

According to Shen, China's IPR undertaking has achieved a remarkable result in 2013. SIPO received 825,000 invention patent applications, ranking the first in the world. The number of valid invention patents per 10,000 heads reached 4.02. China ranked the third position in PCT filing. China received 1.8815 million applications for trademark registrations, ranking the first in the world for 12 consecutive years. China registered 845,000 works and 164,000 software copyrights, and received 1,333 and 1,200 applications for new varieties of agricultural plants and forestry plants respectively, all climbed to its highest level ever.

Shen also said that China's IPR undertaking is faced with a rare opportunity. The 18th CPC national congress, 18th CPC central committee and this year's government report all stressed to step up IPR using and protection. In a bid to implement the decisions of the central government, the 2014 national IPR publicity week is themed on protection, using and development. The protection is core link of IPR works, the using is the fundamental goal of IPR system and development is an eternal theme of IPR undertaking. 

Gurry said in his speech that China has made outstanding achievements in IPR undertaking. On behalf of WIPO, he would like to take this opportunity to express gratitude to Chinese government and IPR-related agencies. 

 (Source: China IP News)