A top intellectual property rights (IPR) official said on Thursday that China has taken steps to prevent Olympic copyright infringement.

"We're confident of creating a sound environment in the IPR sector for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games," said Tian Lipu, director of the State Intellectual Property Office, at a press conference during the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Tian, a delegate to the Party congress, said the State Council, or Chinese cabinet, has issued regulations to protect Olympic symbols from copyright violations shortly after the country won the bid for hosting the 2008 Games.

Relevant government administrations, his own office included, have issued more than 10 regulations in the recent years to protect the copyrights of Olympic rings, five mascot dolls for the Beijing Games -- officially know as the Fuwa, the emblem and other IPR products related to the Games, he said.

Tian said he had consulted Liu Peng, head of the State Administration of Sport, on Olympic piracy. "Liu said the overall situation is quite satisfactory, except for occasional copycat products," according to Tian.

(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2007)