Recently, China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone established "3 in 1" intellectual property office, to protect the patents, trademarks and copyrights in Fujian FTZ all in one department, optimizing the management system of intellectual property.

Accordingly, Fujian FTZ established an intellectual property office in Xiamen Area, and added an intellectual property office to Comprehensive Supervision and Law Enforcing Department in Fuzhou Area and Pingtan Area. The three offices would take charge of the comprehensive supervision and law enforcement of patents, trademarks and copyrights in their own area. Fuzhou Area and Pingtan Area respectively set up intellectual property service stations, convening patent agencies, legal aid center and patent operation corporations into the areas, helping companies in the areas to apply for patents and patent operation. Xiamen Area set up intellectual property quick review and legal aid center, to improving Xiamen's intellectual property economic development pilot work.

Besides, Fujian Intellectual Property Office published an official advice of intellectual property administrative and custom law enforcing in Fujian FTZ with Industry and Commerce Bureau, Copyright Office and Custom. In their advice, the offices reached agreements in setting up joint conference system, sharing law enforcement information and consideration of cases, etc.

On Dec. 12th, 2014, China State Council made a decision to establish China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone, including three areas of Fuzhou, Xiamen and Pingtan. On Apr. 21st, Fujian FTZ was officially established. Lin Xiuqin, Dean of the Intellectual Property Institute of Xiamen University spoke highly of the "3 in 1" intellectual property office in Fujian FTZ. According to Lin, the action of setting "3 in 1" intellectual property office was an innovation of mechanism in intellectual property field. Lin believed that it would save administration resources, increase law enforcement efficiency, safeguard lawful rights and interests of intellectual property owners, and make a fair and orderly environment for market. Lin called it a great example to the other part of China. 

(China IP News)