The number of intellectual property rights lawsuits that involve an overseas party saw a major spike in Shanghai last year amid an even higher increase in the overall number of IP-related cases.

Shanghai courts handled 240 civil lawsuits involving a party not on the mainland china in 2012, a 23.7% year-on-year increase, according to an IPR white paper released by Shanghai Higher People’s Court. During the same period, Shanghai courts received 4,575 IP-related lawsuits, a jump of 44.8%. In more than 80% of the claims involving overseas parties, the foreign parties got support from judicial departments, the white paper said. But that high percentage does not mean courts in Shanghai play favorites. It was claimed that the intellectual property rights of both Chinese and foreign entities are fairly protected.

(Source: China Daily)