The State Council of The People’s Republic of China issued a circular on 31st May to list 2017’s major tasks in cracking down on intellectual property infringement and counterfeit and shoddy goods manufacturing and importing.
The aim of this document, which has circulated to Ministry of Public Security, General Administration of Customs, State Administration for Industry and Commerce, General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, State Intellectual Property Office and other related departments, is to protect intellectual property rights and consumer rights and create a clean business environment.
This document also called for actions against cross-border counterfeit and shoddy goods manufacturing, importing and selling, especially aimed at countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative including Middle East. China departments will work closely with these countries and regions to protect their IPR.
Regular inspection will be strengthened on products concerning people’s life and health, property security and environmental protection. Regulation of goods posting and delivery will be strengthened and related market regulation will be enhanced.
Actions will also be taken against intellectual property infringement in food, medicine, medical equipment, environment protection and high-technology sectors, and to enhance trademark protection.
In fact, this document is to echo the work report from the Supreme People’s Court released on March that having business in China will soon be gaining more protection for the copyrights and trademarks. China will step up the trials of intellectual property rights (IPR) cases in 2017. It also noted that China last year improved IPR protection rules by making judiciary interpretations on the trials of certain kinds of cases, including patent right issues.
According to the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP), China last year prosecuted about 21,000 people for IPR-related crimes. And Customs authorities seized more than 17,000 shipments of goods suspected of IPR infringement in 2016.
For details, please refer to the circular in Chinese at http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2017-05/31/content_5198504.htm