A series of activities was launched in Shenzhen early this month to boost intellectual property awareness coinciding with national and provincial action to promote World Intellectual Property Day, which falls on April 26.

The Shenzhen Municipal Intellectual Property Bureau will organize nine major events for Intellectual Property Promotion and Protection month, including seminars on patent law, how to identify counterfeit patented products and pirated video and audio products, and retailers offering to sell copyright publications and trademark goods.

Intellectual property has become a common concern for the international community. Protecting intellectual property was not only a commitment of China to the World Trade Organization, but also necessary for the country's social and economic progress. The country's intellectual property system helps stimulate scientific and technological advancement, cultural prosperity and economic development.

"The municipal government is determined to improve its system of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection, making it more efficient, and enhance the city's awareness," said Li Ping, newly appointed director-general of the city's intellectual property bureau.

Li said the city had made great progress in patent protection since the nation adopted the patent law 20 years ago. In 1985, the city received only 18 applications for patents. However, the figure rocketed to 12,361 in 2003 and the city became the third nationwide with the most patent applications per year following Beijing and Shanghai.

Shenzhen has adopted judiciary and administrative enforcement of intellectual property rights.

However, Shenzhen still lags behind in legal infrastructure, enforcement capability and public awareness of intellectual property. Pirated publications, particularly audio visual products, are rampant greatly affecting the industry.

(Shenzhen Daily April 26, 2004)