On September 16, the International Seminar on European Intellectual Property System-Industrial Design and Patent, jointly sponsored by SIPO, European Patent Office (EPO), Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) of EU and Chongqing Municipal People's Government, is held in Chongqing. Li Yuguang, SIPO Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Osona, EPO high official, Mr. Jose Izquierdo, OHIM high official and Tong Xiaoping, Vice Mayor of Chongqing Municipal People's Government attend the seminar and deliver speeches.

Focusing on the two themes of the industrial design system of EU and European patent system, the seminar compares China’s industrial design system with that of EU, discusses related procedures of EU industrial design system, introduces how to utilize EU industrial design system and deeply discusses the special topics such as the importance of applying for European patent, patent fee, conditions for granting European patent, procedures of applying patent in Europe, the process for EPO in examining patents and patent protection in Europe.

The seminar will further strengthen Chinese enterprises' awareness of IPR protection, help them learn more about how to acquire and protect IPRs in Europe and how to improve their competitiveness in the international market by taking advantage of their IPRs.

The seminar is another fruitful cooperation between SIPO and European IP organizations. In 2007, SIPO signs the Agreement of Strategic Partnership with EPO. Meanwhile, OHIM has become a new partner of SIPO in international cooperation. The cooperation between the two offices in the area of industrial design will help Chinese and European enterprises expand new business opportunities in China and Europe.

Nearly 200 people, including heads of IP administrations in related provinces and municipalities in southwest China, related department of Chongqing Municipal and various districts and counties, related enterprises, universities and scientific research institutes attend the seminar.