On October 18, the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing. The fiveyearly CPC Congress is China's most significant political meeting, attended by more than 2,200 delegates from all walks of life. Stressing the importance of fostering a culture of innovation, and strengthening the creation, protection, and application of intellectual property, President Xi Jinping called for more efforts to cultivate a large number of worldclass scientists and technologists in strategically important fields, scientific and technological leaders, and young scientists and engineers, as well as high-performing innovation teams.

 

On September 28, Office of the National Leading Group on the Fight Against IPR Infringement and Counterfeiting released the Report on the New Development of China's IP Protection and Business Environment, introducing the results and progress of China's IP protection and business environment construction in recent years from 6 aspects including the legal system, administrative Enforcement of law, judicial protection, overall coordination, international cooperation and business environment.

 

On October 2, the series of meetings of the 57th WIPO Assemblies kicked off in Geneva, Switzerland. SIPO Commissioner Shen Changyu led the Chinese delegation to attend the meetings. At the opening meeting, Shen Changyu briefed the latest IPR progress made by China in the past year and expressed appreciation towards WIPO for its achievement in various aspects. With China's firm coordination, Shen also hoped that the WIPO's committees could carry out work smoothly.

 

12 Ministries Jointly Issues Plan for IP Protection of Foreign Enterprises

On September 8, China's 12 ministries including Office of the National Leading Group on the Fight Against IPR Infringement and Counterfeiting, State Intellectual Property Office etc. jointly printed and issued the IP Protection Action Plan for Enterprises with Foreign Investment. According to the above plan, 12 ministries will focus on striking the illegal and criminal behavior which infringed the IP of enterprises with foreign investment in the national scope. It's the first time that Chinese government launched a specific action for the IP protection of enterprises with foreign investment.

 

The State Intellectual Property Office of China (SIPO) and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) mutually decided to extend the SIPOIPOS PPH pilot program for another two years from September 2017 to August 31, 2019. A PCT-PPH cooperation model was added to the extended PPH pilot program. This new model allows applicants to use PCT international application results for filing PPH requests to SIPO and IPOS, relevant requirements and procedures of which are subject to the newly updated SIPOIPOS PPH Guidelines.

 

On September 25, The intellectual property rights information system for the national defense industry went online. It includes documentation for all of China's military patents filed since the national defense patent system was established in 1985, as well as a database of military-use software copyrights. It will release demands for patent commercialization and patent analysis reports in some major sectors.

 

On October 8, General Office of the CPC Central Committee and General Office of the State Council printed and issued the Opinions on Deepening the System Reform of Review, Examination and Approval and Encouraging the Innovation of Medicine and Medical Appliances. They also dispatched a notice to require all of the involved departments in different districts to implement this documentation combining the practice. Highlights involving the patent issues includes the establishment of prior review, examination and approval system of compulsory patent licensing medicines etc.

 

On September 19, a work seminar on joint and cooperated patent law enforcement of 11 provinces and municipalities within the Yangtze River Economic Zone was held in Chongqing. Intellectual property (IP) office officials and law enforcement responsible persons from Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Chongqing, Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou attended the seminar, discussed regional joint and cooperated patent law enforcement work, and signed the 11 Provinces and Municipalities of Yangtze River Economic Zone Joint and Cooperated Patent Law Enforcement Memorandum.

 

On August 31, under the witness of Chinese President Xi Jinping and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan on Cooperation in the Field of Intellectual Property was signed in Beijing. The MoU noted that, the Parties are recognizing the significant role of intellectual property in enhancing the competitive edge of enterprises and countries and in encouraging economic and social development, etc.