China plans to restructure the State Intellectual Property Office to strengthen protection of intellectual property rights, according to the State institutional reform plan of the State Council.
The office will incorporate part of functions of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC), and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, to solve problems including separated administration and overlapping enforcement. The new agency will be responsible for facilitating the construction of an IPR protection system, and the registration and administrative adjudication of trademarks, patents and geographical indications.
At the same time, Shen Changyu, director of the State Intellectual Property Office, made the remarks at the annual session of the national legislature that the Office will treat domestic enterprises and international ones, big companies and small firms, State-owned companies and private sectors, equally, to provide protection over their intellectual properties, to help create a better business environment. Shen also said that the Office will speed up review and protection process, more IPR centers will be established this year to allow right owners to safeguard their rights more efficiently with lower cost.
http://english.sipo.gov.cn/news/officialinformation/1120654.htm
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