IP Scene

1.Beijing

Stringent Expo protection vowed on range of creations

Eight organizations have jointly initiated a crackdown on patent, trademark and copyright infringement related to the World Expo 2010. The campaign will last until November.

The organizations include state-level administrations for patents, copyrights, industry and commerce, customs, public security, publicity and prosecution, as well as an international trade promotional council.

The Expo scheduled to open in May is expected to attract exhibitors from more than 240 countries and regions, as well as international organizations.

Because the Expo is a showcase of worldwide innovation, the protection effort covers national exhibits, designs for exhibition halls, display stands and boards, souvenirs and artistic performances.

All are under administrative and legal protection, as are special marks of the Expo including its name, logo, theme song and slogan.

An on-site office will be established during the event to offer advice and deal with intellectual property claims.

2.Shanghai

Special Pudong court formed to hear Expo-related disputes

A special law court unveiled last Thursday in Pudong district aims to deal with civil and commercial cases during the World Expo 2010.

The Expo covers the districts of Pudong, Huangpu and Luwan, but about three-fourths of its land and facilities are in Pudong.

To avoid overlap of jurisdictions in Expo-related cases, the Shanghai High Court has designated the special court to rule on a variety of disputes ranging from construction of facilities to tickets and insurance.

The new court team include six judges - five for civil and commercial case judgment and one for enforcement.

The Expo court has already begun to hear cases about house leasing, software sales, real estate management and property damage.

3.Jiangxi

Center in Xinyu helps promote PV patents

A national information center of photovoltaic intellectual property is planned for Xinyu, a city in the eastern province.

The center initiated by the provincial government and the State Intellectual Property Office is expected to increase China's creation and application of photovoltaic patents, enhance intellectual property in photovoltaic products and promote technological innovation.

As an information service, the center will collect and analyze related patents sourced from home and abroad, and provide governments with strategic research reports on photovoltaic intellectual property and consultancy services.

4.Fujian

Cross-Straits trade fair for high-value copyrights

A trade fair for copyrighted products across the Taiwan Straits is scheduled for Fuzhou, capital of the eastern province.

The event is expected to attract leading companies and industrial specialists from both sides of the Straits in a variety of sectors including animation, industrial design, architectural design, stone and wood sculpture, clay and lacquer art.

The event aims to increase awareness of copyright protection and encourage innovation by displaying exhibits with a high copyright value.

Design of eight exhibition halls will reflect highlights of natural and cultural resources in the city with an aim to spur local cultural industries.

5.Hainan

Inventors awarded for helping bring island more innovation

The provincial government has awarded 10 inventors for their outstanding achievements in technological innovation in a province-wide competition.

Inventions by the patent holders "have brought marked economic and social benefits, inspired enthusiasm of more people in research and helped create an innovation-friendly atmosphere in the province", according to the provincial intellectual property administration.

This is the third event. The first took place in 2003.

6.Tibet

New Tibetan software targets 'digital gap'

A new generation of software in the Tibetan language has been developed in the autonomous region of southwest China.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology earmarked 33 million yuan for development of the proprietary software for language input, an operating system, an office package and a Web browser.

Wide use of Tibetan software is expected to help reduce the "digital gap" between Tibet and other parts of the country and facilitate exchanges with the world, said Chari Losangtenzin, vice-chairman of the region.

The authorities have distributed the computer software and offered training to popularize its use.

The ministry said they will use their experience developing Tibetan programs to design software for other languages like the Uygur, Kazak, Kirgiz and Mongolian.

(China Daily 03/31/2010 page17)