A coveted patent

Early last year, the government of Qiannan Bouyei and Miao prefecture of Guizhou province entrusted the Guizhou Society of Shui People with a patent for Shuishu, but found that Shuishu researcher Pan Chaolin from the Guizhou University for Nationalities had already acquired such a patent in 2004.

Pan's trademark for Shuishu consists of three words: le (to inscribe), shui (meaning water, or the Shui minority) and shu (meaning book or language). The patent is effective for 10 years - from 2006 to 2016 - and covers some 40 categories such as technological and scientific research, verification of art works, and seals for books and paintings. Anyone who wants to use the trademark of Shuishu in these areas must get Pan's approval.

Wu Yonghua, secretary-general of the Guizhou Society of Shui People, says that Shuishu is a public cultural resource that should be studied and developed by the whole society, and not monopolized by one individual.