The Intellectual Property Rights Administrative Adjudication Office of the Wuhan Area of the China (Hubei) Pilot Free Trade Zone is unveiled. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

The Intellectual Property Rights Administrative Adjudication Office of the Wuhan Area of the China (Hubei) Pilot Free Trade Zone was recently unveiled in the East Lake High-tech Development Zone (also known as Optics Valley of China, or OVC).

It is the first of its kind in China, and aims to resolve IP disputes at the grassroots level efficiently. By utilizing information technology, it will collect IPR protection demands, gather information, provide policy consultations, and offer solutions to IP disputes for companies. It will also focus on key issues and improve the administrative adjudication system for patent infringement disputes, enhancing the capacity of the grassroots IP protection system.

OVC is one of the most innovative and dynamic regions in Central China. The area currently has 63,000 enterprises with IPRs, including 151,000 valid patents, of which 70,316 are invention patents and over 65,000 registered trademarks.

In recent years, the valley has made strong efforts to promote the administrative adjudication of patent infringement disputes and establish a diversified resolution mechanism. It has formed a comprehensive IP protection framework that integrates judicial trials, administrative protection, commercial arbitration, multiple mediation methods, industry self-discipline, and social supervision.