Blueprint for IPR cooperation under BRI framework needed

The third Belt and Road High-level Conference on Intellectual Property Rights, held in Beijing last week, which emphasized efforts to promote the development of IPR cooperation, is expected to inject more IPR elements into high-quality cooperation between China and the countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

China has till now signed IP cooperation agreements with 57 countries participating in the BRI. Over the past decade, the cumulative number of patent applications and authorizations by Chinese enterprises in these countries and related organizations reached 70,000 and 35,000 respectively, at an average annual growth rate of more than 20 percent.

Yet China still needs to address some problems, from the lack of practical cooperation projects to the cultivation of IPR talents, trademarks and brands, and the strengthening of service cooperation with patent agencies.

IPR cooperation is closely related to some important areas related to national security such as network telecommunications, navigation and aviation, and highway transportation.

China should take targeted measures to cultivate talents in relevant areas, such as IPR talents with international thinking, advanced professional skills and skilled operational ability, and talents who are familiar with international politics and relations.

China needs to strengthen the use of trademark information resources through innovative ideas, mechanisms and methods and Chinese enterprises should launch products that are more in line with global market demand, and enhance the commercial value of their trademarks.

China should give full play to their potential, guide them to make rational use of the World Intellectual Property Organization's global service system, and improve their overseas IPR distribution and cooperation capacity.

China should also carry out overseas IPR protection consulting services, provide training and legal consulting services required by enterprises, and strengthen early warning and prevention mechanisms for IPR infringements.

ECONOMIC DAILY