IP rights crackdown lands big results

Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration sets up a service center for IP protection and commercial dispute resolution at the venue for the upcoming China International Import Expo. [Photo/eastday.com]

Since a 100-day action program was launched on Aug 1 to protect intellectual property rights for the second China International Import Expo (CIIE), Shanghai has been cracking down all kinds of violations of IP rights, according to local media.

They reported on Oct 9 that officials were actively preparing the service and security work to be implemented during CIIE and had achieved good results.

Officials said that at present, 328 cases of intellectual property infringement - involving a total amount of more than three billion yuan ($420 million) - have been cracked and investigated in the city and 285 criminal suspects have been arrested.

Officials added that the increase in the number of cases investigated and the criminals caught had both gone up more than 200 percent over the previous year.

Member units of Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration, or SIPA, carried out detailed communications with the China International Import Expo Bureau on key service aspects during CIIE.

They include communications, personnel and upgrading facilities.

In addition, SIPA had set up an IP protection and commercial dispute resolution service center at the CIIE venue.