WTO Access Urges Protection of Intellectual Property Rights

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, December 28, 2001

WTO Access Urges Protection of Intellectual Property Rights

China will have more opportunities than challenges in the field of protection of intellectual property rights following its entry into the WTO, said Wang Jingchuan, commissioner of the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO).

China's central authorities have decided to adopt the strategy of invigorating the country through science and technology and education, in order to further improve research and development skills, Wang said.

WTO's Uniform Rules

The World Trade Organization (WTO) entitles all its members to equal treatment on trade as well as urges them to abide by uniform rules.

WTO members always regard compliance with WTO's intellectual property codes as the touchstone for testing the keeping of promises by others.

The intellectual property system, which was adopted by Western countries about 100 years ago, protects and encourages the initiative and creativity of the human being.

The Agreement on Trade-related Intellectual Property (TRIPS) regulated by the WTO, outlines a necessary global level for safeguarding intellectual property rights.

Competitiveness to Be Sharpened

Wang Jingchuan, commissioner of the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO), said that China will have more opportunities than challenges in the field following its entry into the WTO.

In international trade, he said, any technology or product with its own intellectual property will sharpen a country's competitiveness. Meanwhile, exporting countries can learn about advanced technologies from throughout the world.

China's central authorities have decided to adopt the strategy of invigorating the country through science and technology and education, in order to further improve research and development skills.

China's leading household electric appliances manufacturer Haier and Sinopec have gained remarkable market shares in developed countries with their patented technologies.

Agreement of TRIPS

Over the last two decades, China has adopted patent, trademark and copyright laws as well as other laws and regulations dealing with intellectual property. The above three major laws, which were revised recently, are in agreement with the TRIPS. Li Mingde, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Intellectual Property Center, said that the TRIPS ensures innovation and legitimate technical transfers between WTO members.

Intellectual property has come to be regarded as the most valuable property in the 21st century, Li said. Regardless of economic levels, all WTO members could safeguard their interests and rights by invoking the TRIPS.

Disparity Between China & Other Countries

Compared with developed countries, China lags behind in the proportion between R&D expenses and gross domestic product, the number of scientists or engineers among every 10,000 people, and the number of patents among every 10,000 people.

Repeated research at lower levels has obstructed further scientific and technological development in the country, Li said.

Developed Countries

Statistics show that Japanese people annually make more than 400,000 patent applications in both their own country and foreign ones. The yearly patent applications by Americans and Germans were 200,000 and 150,000 respectively.

Some transnationals, such as IBM, Dupont, Hitachi and Philips, are pushing their competitors out of the market by holding more and more patents.

Chinese Paten

From 1994 to 2000, Chinese patent applications had an average annual increase of 14.6 percent while foreign applications increased by 22.3 percent.

In 2000, there were 25,346 Chinese patent applications and 30,343 foreign ones. Some applications from foreigners even posed threat to the country's industrial landscaping.

As a result SIPO plans to launch a national patent strategy, which supports key industries and high technology fields.

SIPO will help research institutes and large-sized enterprises analyze the international trends in patent protection and zero in on major targets of technological innovation.

Vice Premier on Intellectual Property Rights

Issue of intellectual property rights is at the heart of global competition, as a result of globalization and the strides made in technological development, said Chinese Vice Premier Wen Jiabao on December 25. Wen called for strategic research of patents and clear outlining of the objectives of scientific and technological innovation projects.

Patent management work to be strengthened

China needs to improve the quality and the comprehensive ability of patent management work, which requires a large team of talented people with professional knowledge, strong management skills, and familiarity with laws and international rules.

Large increase in patents

Statistics show that by the end of November, China had registered a total of 740,000 patents. Applications for scientific and technological innovation projects posted a high growth rate this year, with an increase of 62.5 percent on a yearly basis.

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