China launches centres to protect intellectual property

The head of China’s intellectual property administration has said his organisation will set up 19 centres across the country to streamline the granting of intellectual property rights.

Shen Changyu, head of China’s State Intellectual Property Office, said at a press conference on 24 April that the country was in the process of revising its patent law and creating a punitive damages system for IP infringement as a deterrent to illegal behaviour. The centres are part of this effort, he said.

“China will strengthen IP protection to fulfil its international obligation as well as increase China’s economic competitiveness,” Shen said.