Qualified companies in Zhongguancun, the high-tech hub in the capital city, can now receive a certificate within five working days from the Beijing Intellectual Property Office to prove they have no record of intellectual property rights violations, according to new policies released by the office.

The certificate is needed for a company to apply for a public stock listing or to advertise a patented product.

It is the first such regulation with a deadline, which is also expected to help shorten patent application processing times.

(Source: China Daily)