China received 268,926 patent applications in the first six
months of 2007, up 7.3 percent from the corresponding period last
year, according to China Council for the Promotion of International
Trade (CCPIT).
These patent applications involved inventions, utility models
and designs, according to the CCPIT.
According to official statistics, China's patent applications
had exceeded 3 million by the end of June, 2006.
China had received more than 4.98 million applications for
registering trade marks by the end of 2006, with the number of
registered trade marks exceeding 2.77 million.
Currently, China has more than 600 patent agent organizations.
The Patent and Trademark Law Office under the CCPIT remains the
largest agency authorized to manage overseas-related intellectual
property.
(Xinhua News Agency October 7, 2007)