China will continue to tighten its supervision in the areas of trademark and advertisement to prevent irregular practices in those sectors this year, China Daily reports on January 14

The move is aimed at fostering an orderly market environment and help State-owned enterprises make their products more competitive, said Wang Zhongfu, director of the State Administration of Industry and Commerce (SAIC).

Illegal practice involving trademarks, such as producing fake brands of merchandise and brand infringement, will face serious consequences, the source said.

The government will work harder to protect the 280 name brands in China, while encouraging local companies to develop more domestic brands.

Wang said trademark management is especially important for the reform of domestic enterprises in order to prevent the draining of State-owned intangible assets during the brand's asset reorganization and merger.

Meanwhile, to provide a better investment environment for foreign companies, the administration promised that foreign trademark infringement cases will receive more attention this year.

Officials from the SAIC said the focus is being put on advertising content standards and the operation of the firms in this field of business. (China Daily)