IPR protection to be improved
By Liu Li (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-01-06 06:05

Judicial protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) will be further strengthened this year, Chief Justice Xiao Yang vowed yesterday.

"Various levels of courts should fight severely against crimes infringing IPR to help build up a judicial environment that encourages innovation," Xiao, president of the Supreme People's Court, said yesterday at a conference that gathered presidents of high people's courts from across the country.

Intellectual rights of scientific talents, authors and high-tech enterprises will be protected, he vowed.

"Courts will continue to adopt various judicial remedies and civil punishment measures to stop IPR infringement, especially counterfeiting and pirating," Xiao said.

He emphasized protection of IPR on the Internet in accordance with the law. An example of this is disputes over domain names.

Meanwhile, three judicial interpretations on unfair competition, new plant variety infringement and music television videos will be ratified and made public as soon as possible, he vowed.

The Supreme People's Court made public drafts to the three judicial interpretations in November to garner public opinion.

Criminal punishment for IPR infringement was strengthened in 2005.

During the first 11 months last year, courts nationwide accepted 3,250 criminal cases involving IPR issues, according to statistics given by the court.

The figure was up 28 per cent on the same period in 2004, sources said.

"Pre-accusation measures were adopted in accordance with the law to prevent greater losses among rights owners," Cao Jianming, vice-president of the Supreme People's Court said yesterday at the conference.

Commodities that are accused of IPR infringement will be seized before the court hearing if plaintiff appeals and the court approves.

(China Daily 01/06/2006 page2)