IP scene

Beijing

Students test IP protection knowledge

A team from Beijing Technology and Business University has won a knowledge contest on the theme of intellectual property protection. The contest was part of a promotional event for innovation by Beijing's college students, aiming to help them improve their knowledge of IP protection and related procedures when starting their own businesses. Eighteen students from six universities took part in the contest.

Beijing Youth Daily

Zhejiang

Ningbo sets 2020 target for trademarks

The Ningbo government has released regulations on further implementation of the city's trademark strategy, setting a goal of having more than 180,000 trademarks by 2020, including 100 that are recognized as well-known trademarks. As of now, Ningbo has more than 130,000 trademarks, ranking first in the province. It also added nine well-known trademarks this year, increasing the total number to 76, the second-highest in the province.

People.com

Guangdong

Chinese abroad advised to learn local law

A meeting of the Western Returned Scholars and Chinese Overseas-Educated Scholars Association heard that overseas Chinese should increase their IP awareness and learn more about IP laws and regulations in their countries, as many have experienced problems in the innovation of their products. More than 40 representatives from the association's 14 overseas branches recommended the association organize IP lectures and invite experts to provide consulting services to help avoid risks.

Chinanews.com

Heilongjiang

Campaign launched for Patent Week

IP authorities in Harbin have launched campaigns in schools and marketplaces to mark annual Patent Week. They gave lectures, organized industrial design exhibitions at school campuses, and provided books about IP and technical innovation to students. Design exhibitions were also held at the city's shopping centers, along with training programs organized for workers and promotional advertisements shown on large screens.

People. com.cn

Shanghai

Few university patents have dollar value

A survey by Sinoipro IP Management and Technology Transfer Co has found that less than 5 percent of patents owned by Shanghai's universities and research institutes have commercial value. Zong Gang, general manager of the company, said that is mainly because the government has paid more attention to the number of patents than to quality. The inappropriate use of patents also aggravated the problem, he said. For example, patents count instead of academic papers when researchers apply for higher academic titles.

Jiefang Daily

Jiangsu

Expo helps promote brand economy

A three-day Chinese brand expo was held in Suzhou last week, attracting more than 500 companies from around the nation and covering fields of preschool education, food, clothing and household products. About 80 percent of the companies own national famous brands and trademarks of geographical indications. The annual event serves as a platform to showcase the efforts by companies to implement trademark strategy and help promote a corporate brand economy, said the local administration for industry and commerce.

Suzhou.gov.cn

(China Daily 12/02/2015 page17)