By Jiang Wei (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-08-15 06:57

The United States has asked the World Trade Organization (WTO) to set up a panel to settle its intellectual property rights (IPRs) dispute with China after the two sides failed to negotiate an agreement.

Sean Spicer, spokesman for the US Trade Representative, said China has taken tangible steps to improve IPR protection and enforcement in recent years, but the US still sees "important gaps that need to be addressed".

Under WTO rules, the WTO Dispute Settlement Body will consider the US request at its next meeting on August 31.

The panel will have six to 12 months to decide on the case.

Chen Jihong, a lawyer with Zhonglun W&D Law Firm in Beijing, said the United States was not justified in its criticism of China's IPR protection.

He said the country has made great progress in IPR protection over the past decade by improving legislation and boosting enforcement.

The US filed a complaint to the world trade body over China's protection and enforcement of copyright and trademarks in April. Consultations were held in June.

The IPR case is one of five disputes lodged with the WTO by the United States against China. It is the third case lodged against China in which the United States has requested a WTO dispute settlement panel.

Last September, Washington requested a panel examine China's regulations on imposing local content requirements in the auto sector. In July this year, it called for a panel to look into China's so-called industry subsidies. And a dispute over market access to films, music, home entertainment videos and publications is also under consultation.