China has improved protection of intellectual property rights
(IPR) since it joined the World Trade Organization three years ago,
European Union officials said Monday in Beijing.
"China's legal framework (for IPR) is basically in place," Franz
Jessen, deputy head of the EU delegation in Beijing, told a news
briefing. "The Chinese government has put a lot of effort into
legislation."
He also said the government has a high level of understanding of
IPR protection and is revving up work to combat piracy and
counterfeiting.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Culture launched a
nationwide campaign to combat the sale of pirate HDVDs (highly
compacted video discs that can hold several films or entire TV
series). The crackdown will run through the end of next February,
state officials said. Shanghai's authorities also kicked off a
citywide crackdown on the illegal sale of pirate DVDs.
Sergio Balibrea, head of the trade section of the delegation,
said the EU has noted China's yearlong, national campaign since
September to protect IPR. He had also welcomed the news that a
legal interpretation on criminal prosecution standards of IPR
violations will be released by the end of the year.
Beijing-based experts believe China has stood by its WTO
commitments in terms of IPR protection.
"China has exerted great efforts in the fight against IPR
violation," said Teng Fei, a senior researcher with the State
Council's Development Research Center. "Given the size and the
development level of the country, IPR protection work is
complicated and arduous."
At the same briefing, Jessen called for further efforts from
government and industry to implement IPR laws and regulations to
curb the flow of fake goods into the EU's market. He also asked
that local governments give greater priority to protecting IPR
holders.
According to the EU, almost 85 million counterfeit or pirated
articles were seized by customs at its external borders in 2002.
The figure was 50 million in the first half of 2003.
(China Daily November 16, 2004)