AmCham China yesterday released a survey, which suggests the
Chinese government is both capable of and willing to take action
against those who violate intellectual property rights (IPR).
The 2007 AmCham China Business Climate Survey said that 44.2
percent of the US companies operating in China that responded to
the poll said the situation regarding IPR infringements had
improved. A majority 48.1 percent said it had stayed the same and
7.7 percent said it had deteriorated.
For those companies with experience of public security
enforcement on IPR cases, 51 percent said it had improved, 47
percent said it had stayed the same and 2 percent said it had
deteriorated.
For those with experience of Chinese customs enforcement on IPR,
43 percent indicated it had improved and 57 percent said it had
stayed the same.
The survey was carried out by the American Chamber of Commerce
in China, which represents more than 1,000 US companies here.
It said: "Over the past year, evidence has continued to mount
that the Chinese Government is serious in its intention to bring
IPR protection order to the Chinese market."
Various legal initiatives were advanced over the past year, such
as a string of new legislation and revisions of existing laws on
online copyright protection, royalty levies, patents and
trademarks.
A 100-day nationwide campaign launched on July 15, which
targeted pirated audio and video products and computer software
resulted in an average haul of 19.46 million illegal publications
every month through September.
In the whole of 2006, authorities seized 150 million illegal,
pirated and pornographic publications.
"Many of these positive developments reflect China's ambitious
plans to promote homegrown innovation," the report continued.
Early this month, the National Working Group for IPR Protection
released China's Action Plan on IPR Protection 2007, detailing 276
concrete measures in 10 areas.
A National IPR Strategy Formulation will be completed by the end
of June.
"Moreover, a continued surge in application filings in China
demonstrates that both Chinese and foreign companies are embracing
these developments," the survey said.
In 2006, there were more than 700,000 trademark applications
filed in China, and the number of invention patent filings rose to
210,490, up 21 percent on the previous year.
Despite the favourable report and China's progress on IPR
protection, Canada is likely to join the United States in
complaining to the World Trade Organization about the IPR
protection situation here.
Canadian Trade Minister David Emerson was quoted by local media
as saying yesterday: "We are seeking clarification from China on
its IPR enforcement regime, given concerns expressed by Canadian
industry.
"Our goal is to resolve this issue through dialogue with the
Chinese government and through cooperation with our trading
partners."
(China Daily April 27, 2007)