The Guangdong branch of Italy's Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Desk recently sponsored a seminar in Guangzhou on IPR protection in China.

Representatives of nearly 40 Italian companies and officials from the Guangdong Intellectual Property Office and the Guangdong Administration for Industry and Commerce participated at the seminar.

The Guangdong branch of Italy's IPR Desk is one of 13 such offices worldwide.

The Guangdong office covers southern China, including the provinces of Guangdong, Hunan, Guizhou, Yunnan and Hainan, and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The main role of such desks is to provide advisory and monitoring services on IPR issues to Italian companies.

Luigina Cirone, branch chief of the Guangdong office, said the office promotes bilateral cooperation on IPR protections involving China and Italy.

(China Daily 07/06/2009 page9)