Officials protecting fake goods should be 'severely' punished

National prosecutors must investigate officials if they have aided a person or group to skirt intellectual property rights, according to the Supreme People's Procuratorate on Tuesday.

Zhang Bencai, spokesman for the SPP, said during a news conference that prosecutors around China should intensify their investigations into official misconduct in IP cases.

"We will resolutely investigate and severely punish those involved in duty-related crimes, including the abuse of power, dereliction of duty or misconduct," he said.