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Zhang Mao, head of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, answers questions at a press conference on deepening reforms to commerce affairs administration for the fifth session of the 12th National People's Congress in Beijing, March 10, 2017. |
Zhang said 12.37 million trademarks have been registered in China, with 3.69 million applications submitted last year, an increase of 28 percent year on year, which shows that Chinese people's awareness of intellectual property protection has increased.
Zhang said the administration cracked down on 28,000 trademark infringement cases last year and will continue to increase penalties on counterfeiters.
"The authorities have also been promoting the facilitation of trademark application," Zhang said, adding that "with a total of 56 trademark agencies launched in prefecture-level cities, companies can directly apply for trademark in their local areas."
"Although the total number of Chinese-owned trademarks is big, we still lack high-valued brands, which does not do justice to China's new path of economic development, he said.
Zhang said electronic application of trademark will be further promoted as 80 percent of trademarks are applied online. And the cost of application will be significantly reduced.
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