Beijing's intellectual property protection followed requirements in 2014 to help build a national science and technology innovation center and develop a high-quality economic structure, with more collaboration efforts and special campaigns by local enforcement agencies, according to a press conference on April 16.

The number of IP rights in the city grew sustainably and the quality was also remarkably improved, said Fu Xiaohui, deputy chief of the city's IP office, at the press conference.

Last year, more than 138,000 patent applications were filed by individuals and organizations in Beijing, a 12 percent increase from 2013. Applications for invention patents exceeded 78,000, an increase of 15.7 percent.

More than 74,000 patents were granted in the same year, including nearly 23,300 invention patents.

The city's ownership of invention patents per 10,000 people reached 48.2, maintaining a leading position in the nation. Beijing added nine brands that gained geographical indication status, including Pinggu Peach and Daxing Watermelon.

The number of copyright registrations also increased by nearly 20 percent to reach more than 510,000. Nearly 8,800 copyrighted works were imported, including 31 types of software and 61 electronic publications.

Wang Yefei, deputy head of the Beijing Copyright Bureau, said fighting online music piracy would be this year's priority.

The World Intellectual Property Organization also chose music protection as the theme for this year's world IP day. Wang said the bureau would supervise large music websites and coordinate with music portals, Internet companies, trademark associations and ad alliances to cut the source of piracy by illegal websites by charging advertising fees.

The city's IP Working Meeting Office also formulated a plan to deepen the implementation of Beijing's intellectual property strategy from 2015 to 2020, which detailed a specific timetable and roadmap, Fu said.

The Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce signed cooperation agreements with the Municipal Science and Technology Commission, Zhongguancun Administrative Committee, State-Owned Cultural Assets Supervision and Administration Office and other government agencies to build an information exchange channel and provide multilevel policy support for the development of corporate trademark protection.

The municipal industry and commerce administration handled 1,100 IP infringement cases and handed out fines totaling more than 11 million yuan ($1.7 million) last year.

Sun Kaoli, head of the administration's trademark office, said this year they would focus on cracking down on counterfeit goods in clothing, auto parts, building materials and small home appliances. Key marketplaces include Beijing's popular zoo clothing wholesale market and Xiushui Street.

The administration said it would also increase penalties for online piracy and establish a blacklist. Online stores found selling copycats more than once will have their on- and off-line trade prohibited for a certain period, Sun said.

The Beijing Cultural Law Enforcement Department cooperated with Beijing Customs to establish effective mechanisms for border inspections of harmful publications, sensitive event notifications and management of network news.

It also coordinated with security and urban management-related agencies to improve a mechanism for sharing information and pick up tipoffs for important cases.

The Beijing Intellectual Property Court opened and started operating on Nov 6.

The court, China's first of its kind, was "an important initiative and a landmark in building the national image of IP protection, which would have a profound impact both in China and overseas", Fu said.

The court has four courtrooms and about 20 judges, said Yang Baiyong, chief IP judge at the Beijing High People's Court. This year, the court is expected to enroll a further six to eight new judges.

As of March 20, the court had accepted more than 2,400 cases, 580 of which were closed. It will accept a total of nearly 13,000 cases by the end of this year, Yang said.

(Source: China Daily)