China will expedite the implementation of a national strategy on intellectual property right (IPR), bringing the IPR management into the whole process of scientific and technological management.

According to the National Guideline on Medium- and Long-Term Program for Science and Technology Development (2006-2020) issued by the State Council on Thursday, China will increase its science and technology innovation level by making full use of the IPR system.

China will further improve the national IPR system, create a legal environment in which intellectual property rights are respected and protected, increase people's awareness of IPR protection, and sternly crack down on IPR infringement, the guideline says.

China will build a special mechanism to oversee IPR issues involving important economic activities such as merger of enterprises and trading of technologies to prevent loss of innovative IPR.

The activities of abusing IPR which interferes in normal market competition and hinders scientific innovation and the spread of scientific achievements should be prevented, the guideline says.

China's enterprises, research organizations and universities are urged to strengthen management of intellectual property right. The associations of various industries should play an important role in IPR protection. A social credit system favorable to the protection of intellectual property right should be established and improved, the guideline says.

A batch of inventions which are of significant importance to the national economic, social and scientific development will be developed to meet the demand of national strategy and industrial development, says the guideline.

Industrial and academic circles are urged to combine their efforts to tackle problems. China will render support to patent application, criterion set-up and cooperation in international trade, says the guideline.
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(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2006)