Summary of Sichuan Provincial Intellectual Property Protection in 2008

In 2008, under the leadership of the Provincial Party Commission and the Provincial Government, Sichuan Intellectual Property work surmounted the difficulties from “5.12” Wenchuan Earthquake. While doing a good job of earthquake relief, we centered on improving the ability in creation, application, protection and management of intellectual property. In a word, Sichuan intellectual property work continued to maintain fast and healthy development.

I. Application, Grant and Registration for the Patent, Trademark, Copyright, Plant Varieties and Geographical Indication Show Steady Growth

The total applications for patent were 24,335, among them, 4,098 patents are application for invention, surpassing the previous year by 26.98% and 20.32% ; 13,369 were granted, including 1086 patents for invention, an increasing of 34.56% and 31.64% compared with that of last year. The number of application for trademark registration amounted to 16,321, of which 11,991 trademark registration were granted; 41 Chinese well-known trademarks were newly granted. 3,101 works and 1,108 soft-wares were registered in Sichuan; 543 plant varieties were applied, of which 258 were granted. 14 products in Sichuan were awarded a prize for geographical indication product. There were 5 new intellectual property cases in Chengdu Customs District.

II. Strengthen Intellectual Property Administrative Enforcement and Judicial Protection

In the whole year, 30,000 enforcement person-times were sent out, 20390 various markets and business spots were examined, 3150 cases of infringing intellectual property were accepted and heard , among them 52 cases concerning foreign countries and  18 cases were transferred to the judicial organ for criminal responsibility; 305 suspects were arrested. 3.944 million pirated and illegal publications and 448,700 counterfeit trademarks were captured and destroyed; 435 suspects were seized, a batch of gangs and criminals were punished, and lots of fake commodities and infringing reproductions were destroyed. 85 suspects who infringed the intellectual property were arrested and 110 persons were prosecuted by the Procuratorial organs of all levels; 775 intellectual property cases were accepted by the People’s Courts, of which 632 cases were concluded. A group of influential cases had been concluded.

III. Strengthen Intellectual Property Publicity and Training

This year, 467,000 pieces of publicity materials were handed out, 3,148 pieces of news about Sichuan intellectual property were broadcasted; 58 special editions were made; 12 national and provincial important training projects were finished and 357 various training classes, forums and lectures were held, in which 81149 persons from government and enterprises were trained.

IV. IPR Played an Active Role in the Earthquake Relief Work and after-calamity Construction

After “5.12”Wenchuan Earthquake happened, Sichuan Public Security Department, Sichuan Administration for Industry and Commerce, Sichuan Administration for Quality and Technical Supervision jointly established an emergency mechanism to protect the market order of earthquake relief and post-earthquake reconstruction. Sichuan Intellectual Property Administration and Sichuan Administration for Industry and Commerce carried out many centralized law enforcement inspections in some large scale wholesale markets. Sichuan Intellectual Property Administration and Intellectual Property Publishing House of State Intellectual Property Office jointly worked out the patent database of earthquake relief, opened the green channel for applying patents. Sichuan Copyright Administration made a reconstructing plan for the New Year Picture of Mianzhu and opened an express channel to register the earthquake relief works. Sichuan Administration of Quality and Technical Supervision actively tried to gain the policy support from General Administration of Quality and Technical Supervision.

V. The Compendium of Sichuan Intellectual Property Strategy was Formulated

The compendium of Sichuan Intellectual Property Strategy was formulated and the research of intellectual property strategy on Chinese traditional medicine was completed.

VI. Cooperation and Communication on Intellectual Property