White paper shows progress in IP protection

A white paper published on Friday by the country's top intellectual property regulator showed that China made progress in IP protection varying from patent registration to international cooperation last year.

In 2022, the number of IP examinations, approvals and registrations continued to grow, while the quality and efficiency of such examinations steadily improved, the National Intellectual Property Administration said at a news conference in Beijing.

By the end of last year, the number of valid invention patents in China had reached 4.21 million, a year-on-year increase of 17.1 percent, according to the white paper.

Continuous efforts have been made to ensure fair competition and strengthen IP protection in key areas such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, Olympics symbols and new plant species.

The Chinese government has intensified efforts to crack down on irregular patent applications and malicious trademark registrations, and has established mechanisms for dealing with overseas IP disputes.

According to the white paper, China also deepened exchanges and cooperation last year with international organizations such as the World Intellectual Property Organization and IP institutions in various countries and regions.

The country has participated in global intellectual property governance and joined the call for strengthening IP protection, it said.

The Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs and the Marrakesh Treaty, the first and only human rights treaty in the field of copyright around the world, have both taken effect in China.

Businesses target of behavior crackdown

The State Administration for Market Regulation is carrying out a special campaign to strengthen the regulation of seriously illegal and dishonest behavior by businesses.

The campaign started in June and will end in December, the administration said in a notice on Friday.

It will focus on improper food safety, counterfeit goods, false advertising, the production and sales of special equipment without licenses and other acts that concern the public.

The list of businesses that repeatedly violated regulations despite punishments should be published, according to the notice.

Emissions reduction market to be launched

China will work to launch a national voluntary greenhouse gas emissions reduction trading market this year, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on June 29.

Liu Youbin, spokesman for the ministry, told a news conference in Beijing that promoting the establishment of the market will help support the development of forestry carbon sequestration, renewable energy, methane emissions reduction, energy conservation and efficiency improvement projects.

He also noted that the launch of the market will encourage a wider range of industries and enterprises to participate in greenhouse gas emissions reductions to meet China's goals of peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.

The ministry has drafted a regulation on voluntary greenhouse gas emissions reductions and support for management systems with relevant departments, and has basically established related infrastructure as well as nationwide registration and trading systems ahead of the launch, Liu said.