The city of Shanghai in East China – one of the top destinations for global investment – plans to further develop itself as an international highland for the protection of intellectual property, or IP, according to the city's IP administration.

From January to September last year, the number of high-value invention patents in Shanghai totaled 82,600, an increase of 17.5 percent year-on-year, accounting for 49.74 percent of the total effective invention patents in the city. The ratio ranked first among all provinces, regions and municipalities in China.

Under China's Patent Law, patents are divided into invention patents, utility model patents and design patents – with the level of invention patents widely regarded as an important index to measure the level of innovation in a region.

The 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25) for Shanghai set out new development goals for the city's IP sector – with the number of high-value invention patents per 10,000 people brought out for the first time.

According to Yu Chen, deputy director general of Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration, in order to realize its transition from quantity to quality output, the city has strengthened its policy support for patent applications and it has been severely cracking down on activities related to improper patent applications.

What's more, Shanghai has also been continuing to develop local geographical indications, or GIs, in recent years. A GI is a distinctive label used on products that have a specific geographic origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are specifically due to that origin.

In November 2021, for the first time, Shanghai issued a research report on the application and development of geographical indications in the city and set up an IP pilot park and trademark brand guidance station in the Chongming Modern Agricultural Park.

Trademark is regarded as the 'pass' for commodities to enter the lucrative market, and is also an important part of Shanghai's IP protection.     

To date, the trademark protection list issued by Shanghai contains 782 key trademarks, including a number of time-honored brands, famous trademarks and the well-known trademarks of foreign-related enterprises.