"The 2007-2015 IP Development Strategy of China Tobacco Industry was issued recently," released by the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) on Oct.31. The Strategy was formulated for fully implementing the ideas from China National Convention of Science and Technology and promoting the implementation of Essentials of 2006-2020 Science and Technology Development Plan of China Tobacco Industry. It's expected that the document will improve the capability of self-innovation and change the mode of economic growth in tobacco industry, and also to strengthen the industry's international competitiveness and economic operation.

After entry of the new century, as technology innovation going further and the IPR awareness upgrading widely, IPR protection has drawn the great attention of STMA and all its gross-roots units. Therefore, IPR creation, protection, operation and management capabilities have been dramatically progressed. By the end of 2006, for example, a total of 1,151 technology patent applications relating tobacco industry have been accepted, published and issued by SIPO, in which 941 were granted patents, and 348 were invention patent applications in which 133 were granted patents. Moreover, a great number of technology patent applications on tobacco are under pending. There are 20,000 registered trademarks of cigarette, including geographical indications. Right now, there are 16 cigarette trademarks assessed as Chinese best-known brands, and 23 cigarette trademarks were recognized as Chinese well-known trademarks.

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