Foreign-related Trademark/Patent Agent Business Rapidly Developed in ChinaThe Chinese people are increasingly concerned with intellectual property rights and there has been seen correspondingly a speedy development of foreign-related trademark/patent agent business in China in recent years.As is known from the State Trademark and Patent Office (STPO), with which over 2000 foreign trademarks have been registered, taking 1/3 of the registered total; cases as infringement and counterfeit of foreign trademark patent rights numbered over 60, more than 60% of agent cases. Founded in 1990, the State Trademark and Patent Office has developed into one of the biggest and most influential trademark and patent agency in China. Over the last 10 years, STPO has been developed on an increasingly larger scale. In 1993, it acquired the qualification as domestic agency of trademarks in 1993, of patent rights in 1996, and an agency of foreign-related patent rights in 1998. Since then, STPO has extended its business into the field of intellectual property rights ruling, law consultation, trademark design, and manufacturing of commercials. The last few years have seen a fast growth of agent trademark and patent rights business by STPO. Starting out with about 900 cases of agent business at first, it set about with an agent capacity of more than 7,000 cases in 1999. Being listed first in agent business of the trade for three years in succession, it has come to claim a worldwide status with business partners found in over 150 countries and regions throughout the world. As is reported, there are now as many as 22 trademark and patent offices engaging in agent business of foreign-related trademark and patent agent business in China. |
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