IP scene

Beijing

Institutions sign deals worth 12 billion yuan

Public higher-learning institutions and government-funded research centers across China signed deals worth 12.1 billion yuan ($1.8 billion) for commercialization and industrialization of their research and development achievements in 2017. The figure represents a 66 percent year-on-year increase, according to a report recently released in Beijing. The report studied more than 2,760 public education and research institutions. Of them, 31 institutions each earned more than 100 million yuan from such deals and nearly 6,460 cooperated with companies in building joint R&D facilities and promotional centers for technologies' industrialization and offering related services.

People's Daily

Horticulture show secures IP protection

A launch ceremony for intellectual property protection of the upcoming Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition was held in Yanqing district earlier this month. Organizers said that they had completed registrations for the gala's logo and mascots in China and 107 other countries and regions. The Beijing Intellectual Property Office is conducting a special campaign for IP protection, which ends on April 28, one day before the exhibition opens. Markets, among others, will be supervised by enforcement officials.

China Market Regulation News

Hunan

City launches fund to support tech startups

Changsha, capital of Hunan province, has launched an intellectual property-collateralized loan risk compensation fund. The Changsha IP Office has appointed the Hunan Provincial IP Trade Center to operate the fund. It aims to relieve tech startups' financial pressure. High-tech companies and businesses with advantages in IP will get priority support from the fund, local officials said. At the launch ceremony in late March, nine local companies signed IP-collateralized loan agreements worth more than 40 million yuan ($5.95 million) in total, with the aid of the fund.

China Intellectual Property News

Jiangsu

Dozens arrested over fake diet pills

Wuxi police are investigating a multi-region case, in which 28 suspects were arrested in March for the production and sale of fake diet pills. More than 1.2 million pills worth nearly 100 million yuan ($14.88 million) were seized. Police were informed by a customer of the adverse effects of the pills in August 2018. The investigation covers 13 cities in seven provinces and found illegal sales via a large online sales network. The suspects founded a company in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, and processed diet pills. Each bottle cost about 10 yuan to make but sold at around 400 yuan.

Legal Daily

Fujian

New move to boost cultural heritage

Provincial legislators passed a new regulation on intangible cultural heritage in late March, which values the heritage's protection, preservation and sustainable use. The move will help to promote exchanges and cooperation in cultural heritage, local officials said. Fujian is home to 130 national intangible cultural heritage items; seven of them are on the UNESCO list. A total of 109 'masters' are responsible for inheriting the traditional skills and techniques.

chinanews.com

(China Daily 04/11/2019 page17)