For the past years, the number of trademark applications in China has been increasing by nearly 100,000 cases every year, while the examination pace of the CTMO fell behind comparatively. The serious backlog caused thereto has been greatly concerned by all circles.

According to a CTMO official, beginning from 2008, the CTMO has been carrying out a series of methods to speed up the examination paces, and has successfully shortened the examination period from three years to more than one year, which may be further reduced to less than one year by 2010, and 10 months by 2012. This will undoubtedly facilitate the development of enterprises.

The cooperation will be carried out step by step through a plurality of research projects. In the first phase which spans one year, it is planned to substantially complete the establishment of an independent patent database dedicated to low-voltage electrical appliance industry and the development of functions of comprehensive search for patent literatures, and meet functional search requirements specific to the industry by establishing an enterprise code dictionary of patentees and a product code dictionary in the low-voltage electrical appliance industry, so as to realize a database comprising the most comprehensive patent information data of multinational and domestic companies in the low-voltage electrical appliance industry and having the most convenient searching means. The cooperation project is planned to be subject to approval test on September, 2010.

The number of the IP-related cases received by the courts in Shanghai is on the rise in recent years. The technical issues involved are more complicated and far-reaching. Frequently, the courts need the professional assistance to solve the technical disputes when judging the cases related to technologies. Among the all kinds of IP cases tried by the courts in Shanghai since 2000, 160 cases are involved in technical appraisal and consultancy.

China's Regulations on Protection of Distribution Rights of Information Network provides that when the situation of infringing actions is "serious", the copyright administration may confiscate the computers and devices mainly used to provide the internet service; if it constitutes a crime, the infringing party will be prosecuted for its criminal liabilities according to the law. But, how serious is serious? Since there are no clear standards, the enforcement results will vary from one area to another. The forthcoming Guideline stipulates that if the website doesn't have an operational qualification or the main content is pirated, or commits the infringement in the second year after being published in the previous year, these situations are considered as serious. These new standards will uplift the inspection level and improve the efficiency of administrative enforcement of copyright of information network.

Meanwhile, China is revising the Copyright Law and will add articles regarding information distribution.

This document amended the original version of Intellectual Property Custom Protection Regulations in six aspects, including alternation and termination of custom recordation of intellectual property rights, counter guarantee, withdrawal of the IP right holders on protection applications, auctions on infringing goods and the legal liabilities on export/import of infringing goods.

These 12 specific measures include: to accelerate the legislative procedure and to improve the trademark law and regulations; to establish a complete and efficient trade mark examination and adjudication working system; to stick to a reasonable and stable trademark examination period; to improve the quality control system of trade mark examination and adjudication; to strengthen trademark administrative enforcements; to strengthen the registration and protection of trademarks on agricultural products and geographical indications; to strengthen the recognition and protection of well-known trade marks and famous trade marks; to strengthen trademark human resource building and management; to implement informationization construction of trademark work; to further improve the service for government departments, enterprises and the general public; to actively develop construction of a trademark culture; and to strengthen the international exchange and cooperation in trade mark field.

Intellectual property protection plays a very important role in the technology innovation. Changping district actively promotes the technology development and attaches great importance to intellectual property protection. To better protect the intellectual property rights of science-and-technology enterprises, Changping district selected IP service agencies according to a set of strict standards. As a nationwide famous agency, Unitalen is recognized by Changping Science park for its high quality service and expertise and won the prize for "Excellent Agency” as the only IP agency in this conference.

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