At a breakfast meeting on IPR at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) 2006, representatives from foreign companies vocalized their acknowledgement of China’s IPR protection efforts. They also provided positive suggestions on how to strengthen IPR protection.

UPS President for Asia-Pacific Ken Torok said his company recently found its website copied by a Chinese parcel service provider. A compliant was thus made to China’s industry and commerce authority, which resulted in the immediate closure of the counterfeiting website. Torok said his was satisfied with China’s progress on trademark protection over the past few years and looked forward to a new level of protection through reinforced efforts.

General Motors President for China Kevin Wale and Andre Dallaire, CEO for Northeast Asia of Chubb Group of Insurance Companies also voiced their acknowledgement of China’s progress on IPR protection. However, Kevin Wale pointed out there were still some small companies in China engaged in the production of counterfeiting goods. This group of infringers weakened Chin’s international image in IPR protection. He hoped that the Chinese government would continue its actions against such infringing activities.

Li Dongsheng, Vice Director of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce made an update on IPR protection in China. He said, currently the bulk of trademark infringement cases in China were subject to voluntary government actions. However, the government alone wasn’t enough to fight piracy and counterfeiting. The whole public needed to be mobilized.

Dallaire said his company had not yet started selling IPR-related policies to its Chinese customers. However, it planned on introducing such service in China next year or later. So his company had a keen concern about IPR protection in China.

Li Dongsheng said, relevant authorities in China would strictly apply the Trademark Law and other laws to both Chinese and foreign companies on an equal basis. The government would also try to raise public awareness at company and individual levels by public advocacy campaigns. He also expressed hope that foreign firms would study Chinese laws and take appropriate actions to safeguard their own interests.


（Source:Xinhua）