China is determined to enhance protection of intellectual property rights and continue IP development as a strategic resource, a senior government official told the recent Business of IP Asia Forum in Hong Kong.

The Chinese mainland's industrial modernization has led to increased demand for technology, a point emphasized in the country's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15), said participants in the IP forum.

An increasingly sophisticated consumer market along with continued urbanization will generate more opportunities for creative design, licensing, and franchising industry, they added.

Entertainment industries are also expected to pick up momentum due to the growing purchasing power of the public.

All indicators show rising IP demand in China with accompanying rapid growth in the development of China's IP legal framework.

Liu Yanxin, assistant director general of the China Patent Information Center at the State Intellectual Property Office, told the forum that the State Council set the goal of reaching a higher level in IP creation, utilization, protection and management a national priority in 2008.

SIPO has formulated a series of policies to improve IP management. Together with nine ministries, the office jointly issued plans in 2011 and this year to promote patents. By June, the Chinese mainland had more than 780,000 invention patents.

The government has also accelerated revision of laws and the legislative process so IP is protected by both administrative and legal rulings, said Liu.

As well, "the government has carried out special operations to combat infringement and the sale of counterfeit and shoddy goods, which has curbed criminal acts of IP infringement", he added.

From the beginning of 2011 to June of this year, local authorities dealt with more than 14,000 patent disputes across the country.

Liu said SIPO places great importance on IP protection and is "always open-minded in international cooperation".

He said IP cooperation between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong has been enhanced in recent years.

"Hong Kong and the mainland continue to explore new ideas and new models of cooperation," Liu said. "The close cooperation has played a positive role in promoting the healthy development of the IP business".

(Source: China Daily)