New IPR guidelines helpful for foreigners, experts say

China's recent directive on the protection of intellectual property rights is encouraging and helpful for foreigners, US IP law experts say.

"The Guideline on Strengthening Intellectual Property Rights Protection", jointly issued by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, backs up a call for stronger IP protection with harsher punishments for infringements.

The document addresses longstanding concerns raised by industry, such as development of a patent linkage system, patent term extension and copyright protection for sports broadcasts, said Mark Cohen, director of the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology.