IP scene

Beijing

Over 70 firms to use geographical indications

The China National Intellectual Property Administration has allowed 72 companies to use geographic indications on 12 types of products. These include jasmine tea from Fuzhou, red tea from Pu'an, blueberry from Majiang and rice from Luoding. GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to it. A company can apply for a GI usage with the local authorities at the origin of the GImarked product. The application will be submitted to the provincial IP department and subject to the final approval of the CNIPA.

China Quality Daily

Model schools with IP education named

The Ministry of Education and the China National Intellectual Property Administration have rolled out the country's first list of 25 model primary and middle schools for IP education. Also named was the fourth group of 53 pilot primary and middle schools for IP education. The assessments began in December 2018. Thirty schools from 23 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions applied for model status and 120 candidates from 29 provincial-level regions competed for the honor. The span for the pilot school status began in January and lasts until December 2020.

China Intellectual Property News

Hainan

Trio of new service groups open on island

Three intellectual property service groups were launched on the southern island on Feb 27. Two of them are stationed at the Hainan Intellectual Property Association, relating to international arbitration and legal services. The other focuses on standardization services for public brands. The establishments complement each other and will share their database, training and expert resources to improve Hainan's business environment and increase the efficiency in settling IP disputes, local officials said.

Chinanews.com

Guangdong

Fifth CPCC facility opens outside Beijing

The Copyright Protection Center of China has added a new outlet to its service network. The CPCC Southern China Copyright Registration Office opened in Guangzhou at the end of February. It is the CPCC's fifth copyright registration facility outside Beijing, after Chengdu in the southwest, Shanghai in the east, Shenzhen focusing on filings from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao region, and Wuhan in Central China.

China Press and Publishing Journal

Criminals face total ban on state work

Intellectual property violators will be permanently banned from government-funded projects if their breach has caused serious damage. This is according to Shenzhen's IP regulations that came into effect on Friday. Violators will face double penalties if they breach the same type of IP or violate others' IP rights at least three times within five years of the first punishment. IP criminals are banned from government-funded projects for five years. In the case of serious damage, the prohibition lasts forever and offenders are disqualified from government purchase projects, as well as government-aided funds and awards.

Shenzhen Special Zone Daily

(China Daily 03/07/2019 page17)