A lighting industry intellectual property rights (IPR) center was established in Guzhen town of Zhongshan city in mid-June, the first for a single industry in the country.

The center plans to provide a range of services from patent applications to maintaining IPR, resolution of disputes and judicial protection.

A circuit court has been established to hear cases at the center.

Guzhen, known for its strong innovation capacity, is the country's largest producer of lighting equipment.

IPR protection is needed due to the town's fierce competition in production and design, so SIPO Commissioner Tian Lipu and Xue Xiaofeng, Party chief of Zhongshan, signed an agreement to develop ways to protect the local pillar industry.

(Source: China Daily)