1. Beijing

Advanced networks, cloud computing for agriculture

The Ministry of Agriculture and China Unicom recently signed an agreement to popularize telecommunication and technology in rural areas.

The partnership will focus on information technologies in agricultural production, operation and management through use of 3G, networked interconnection of everyday objects and cloud computing in pilot zones designated by the ministry.

Industrial design now a part of development strategy

Eleven central government departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the State Intellectual Property Office issued China's first guidance on accelerating development in industrial design.

The result of eight years of planning, the policy shows the industry has been included in the national strategy, according to policymakers.

Highlighting proprietary innovation and intellectual property protection, the document notes that industrial designs, a key part of the market-oriented services, are crucial to competitiveness.

2. Zhejiang

Online shopping giants host intellectual rights forum

Two major domestic online shopping portals, Alibaba and Taobao, jointly hosted a conference in mid-November that discussed Internet copyright protection with some 80 representatives of local government sectors and companies in Hangzhou, capital of the eastern province.

Taobao has stepped up its crackdown on piracy this year, said Ni Liang, director of the company's information security department.

In addition to establishing channels for complaints and supervision, special campaigns against infringement have also been mounted.

In the first half of 2010, Taobao removed more than 5.9 million infringing items for sale online and deleted 20,000 text and graphics postings daily, according to Ni.

3. Shanghai

SIPO head: Cities crucial to core competitiveness

State Intellectual Property Office Director Tian Lipu delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of an international forum on "intellectual property and innovative cities" in late November.

Cities embody the nation's core competitiveness as gathering places for diverse innovative elements and resources, Tian said.

To increase protection and application of intellectual property is key to modernizing the economy and easing environmental burdens, he said.

As a lead innovative city, Shanghai is expected to become a global center of finance, economics, trade and shipping in 2020.

4. Sichuan

Inspirational book sets copyright sale record

The copyright on a new inspirational book was recently sold for 2 million yuan ($300,000), a record for the genre in China.

The book titled Who Is Exploiting You with 50,000 Chinese characters is written by Qiu Qingjian, who is well-known for writing moralist stories. He has published more than 60 works, seven of which have been published overseas.

Many well-established publishers showed an interest in his latest book, but it went to a joint bid from a local creative content company and a wine maker.

5. Guangdong

Nation's first proprietary carbon fiber airplane

China's first proprietary carbon fiber light airplane made its debut at the International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai recently.

Called the Red-Mouthed Gull, the light sports airplane was manufactured by Jon72, a Japan-invested fiber reinforced plastics producer in the Zhuhai Aviation Industrial Park, according to local media.

The two-seat aircraft that is 2 meters tall and weighs 280 kilograms scan fly up to 1,000 kilometers at a maximum altitude of 5,000 meters.

The plane is a joint effort by Jon72 and Nanchang Hangkong University, which forged a strategic partnership last year.

China Daily

(China Daily 12/08/2010 page17)