China vows better IPR protection

BEIJING - China will improve the protection and management of intellectual property rights (IPR) to facilitate its national strategy of innovation-driven development, a new official document said.

A guideline released Tuesday by the State Council orders stricter IPR protection to create a sound environment for innovators.

Punishments on IPR infringement will be increased, the guideline said, adding that protection in emerging sectors will be prioritized.

The government will build a more effective IPR management system and developing world-class patent review agencies.

Improved IPR protection and management will give a push to new technology and emerging industries, and help promote mass entrepreneurship and innovation, the guideline said.

A latest report from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) showed China has become a main driver of global patent growth. The WIPO patent offices received 928,177 filings from China in 2014, outstripping the combined total in its next-closest followers, the United States and Japan.