Tire design database to prevent patent disputes

China's first design patent database for tire tread that supports image searches will be released at an international arbitration forum in Qingdao, Shandong province on Friday.

Industry insiders said the specialized database, which was jointly developed by the Intellectual Property Publishing House and Qingdao Rubber Valle Intellectual Property Co Ltd, will reduce the frequency of patent infringement cases and enhance Chinese tire manufacturers' ability to self-protect, reported People's Daily.

China's tire industry has developed quickly but has seen increasingly serious infringements in tread design patents, said Li Cheng, deputy head of the Intellectual Property Publishing House Co, which is affiliated with the State Intellectual Property Office.