China upholds "equal IP protection" to boost high-level opening up

　　Recently, Shen Changyu, Commissioner of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), hosted a roundtable meeting  on IP protection for foreign enterprises in Beijing. Joined by key departmental officials, Shen engaged directly with representatives from eleven foreign enterprises, including Nidec Corporation, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Phoenix Contact, Merck, Schneider Electric, Ford, LEGO, Tesla, and Siemens. The meeting focused on IP protection, gathering opinions and suggestions from foreign enterprises, and providing immediate responses to related concern. Hu Wenhui, Deputy Commissioner of the CNIPA, also attended, detailing efforts to enhance IP protection for foreign enterprises.

　　"In May 2022, the CNIPA affirmed the validity of the patent rights for two formulations of a key product of AstraZeneca, which significantly bolstered market stability and the company's confidence in investing in China. This decision spurred the company to invest an extra 9 billion yuan in China."

　　"Boehringer Ingelheim faced an infringement case involving its innovative diabetes medication - Linagliptin tablets during the online tendering process. This case was swiftly resolved as one of the first major patent infringement disputes adjudicated by the CNIPA, safeguarding the patent holder's lawful rights and interests, and playing an exemplary role in resolving pharmaceutical patent disputes."

　　"Ford currently holds some 9,000 patents and 1,500 trademarks in China. China's fast-improving IP protection environment has further promoted our innovative development. Ford's two R&D centers in China were upgraded to Ford China Product Centers in 2018. They now collaborate closely with Ford's other R&D centers worldwide, fostering a cycle of innovation that feeds back into the company's global development."

　　Representatives from foreign-funded enterprises highly commended China's efforts in IP protection.

　　"Opening up is a fundamental national policy of China. While sharing the benefits of China's development and achieving their own growth, foreign-funded enterprises have also contributed to the efficient allocation of global resources, injecting strong momentum into the high-quality development of China's economy. Chinese government has made a series of strategic arrangements to strengthen IP protection, showcasing the its firm determination to comprehensively improve the business environment and safeguard the lawful rights and interests of foreign-funded enterprises," said Shen at the meeting.

　　Shen noted that strict IP protection is crucial to fostering a favorable business environment and a top concern for foreign-funded enterprises. We should fully leverage the functional role of IP, to effectively solve the practical difficulties and problems encountered by foreign-funded enterprises in the IP field, offering more targeted services to create a favorable environment for their development in China.

　　At the meeting, the enterprises engaged in candid discussions, voicing their concerns and suggestions for IP protection. They focused on strengthening IP at the source, advocating for the improvement of patent examination standards and trademark examination rules, the intensification of crackdown on malicious trademark registrations, and the reinforcement of well-known trademarks. They also addressed the law enforcement of IP protection, citing difficulties in fixing the value of products sold on e-commerce platforms and initiating legal cases, and called for enhanced online supervision, as well as coordinated cross-departmental and regional law enforcement efforts. Additionally, they emphasized the need to intensify IP protection in the pharmaceutical sector, particularly in centralized procurement, thereby ensuring IP protection throughout the entire drug procurement process. Relevant functional departments actively responded to and clarified these issues on the spot.

　　"The representatives have articulated their IP concerns, and following the meeting, we will systematically address them with a targeted approach. For matters that involve other departments' functions, we will utilize the inter-ministerial joint meeting mechanism for building a strong country in IP to facilitate the resolution of these issues in coordination with relevant departments," said Shen.

　　In recent years, the CNIPA has consistently upheld the principle of equal treatment and protection for IP of both domestic and international business entities. It has made substantial efforts in enhancing top-level design, refining management systems, strengthening law-based governance, improving protection efficiency, and deepening international cooperation. These efforts have significantly elevated the CNIPA's capacity and standards in IP governance, fostering a fair competitive environment for enterprises and innovators from around the world.

　　Statistics indicate that in 2023, public satisfaction with China's IP soared to an all-time high of 82 points, with foreign-funded enterprises' satisfaction reaching 80.55, marking a 1.44 point increase from 2022. IP applications, grants, and holdings from international sources have been rising rapidly year by year. In the previous year, the number of valid invention patents held by foreign applicants in China exceeded 900,000, representing a nearly 5% year-on-year growth, while the number of valid trademark registrations topped 2.1 million, registering a 3.4% year-on-year increase. These figures underscore the significant interest of foreign-funded enterprises in the Chinese market and their robust confidence in China's IP protection.

　　Looking ahead, the CNIPA will continue to enhance the quality of IP protection by refining the IP protection system, legal framework, and supportive mechanisms. It will focus on proactive measures at the source to foster a more conducive business and innovation environment. Additionally, the administration will deepen international IP cooperation, actively advocate for the improvement of global IP rules and standards, contributing to a more advanced open economy. (by Li Yangfang)

　　近日，中国国家知识产权局局长申长雨在京主持召开外资企业知识产权保护座谈会，带领局相关部门主要负责同志，与尼得科株式会社、阿斯利康、拜耳、勃林格殷格翰、菲尼克斯、默克、施耐德电气、福特汽车、乐高、特斯拉、西门子等11家外资企业代表面对面交流知识产权保护问题，听取外资企业意见建议，并就有关问题给予现场回应。中国国家知识产权局副局长胡文辉出席座谈会并介绍加强外资企业知识产权保护相关工作。

　　“2022年5月，中国国家知识产权局对阿斯利康一个重要产品的两项制剂专利作出维持专利权有效的决定，极大稳定了相关产品市场和阿斯利康在华投资的信心，激励企业又陆续在华增资近90亿元。”

　　“勃林格殷格翰的一款创新糖尿病药品利格列汀片在招标挂网环节遭遇侵权案件，作为中国国家知识产权局首批重大专利侵权纠纷行政裁决案件得到快速处理，专利权人的合法权益获得坚决保障，该案也在解决药品专利侵权纠纷领域发挥了重要示范作用。”

　　“福特汽车目前在中国拥有约9000件授权专利及1500件注册商标。中国快速完善的知识产权保护环境进一步促进了我们的创新发展。福特汽车两个在华研发中心于2018年升级为福特中国产品中心，开始与全球布局的其他研发中心积极互动，实现了创新反哺。”

　　外资企业代表对中国知识产权保护表达了高度的赞赏。

　　“对外开放是中国的基本国策。外资企业在分享中国发展红利、实现自身发展的同时，也带动了全球资源高效配置，为中国经济高质量发展注入了强劲动力。围绕加强知识产权保护，中国政府作出一系列安排部署，彰显了全面优化营商环境，依法保障外资企业合法权益的坚定决心。”申长雨在座谈会交流中讲到。

　　申长雨表示，作为塑造良好营商环境的重要方面，严格保护知识产权也是外资企业最为关注的问题之一。要充分发挥知识产权的职能作用，有效解决外资企业在知识产权方面遇到的实际困难和问题，更有针对性地做好服务工作，为外资企业在华发展营造良好环境。

　　座谈会上，各家企业开诚布公、畅所欲言，纷纷提出自己的知识产权保护诉求建议。聚焦加强知识产权源头保护，希望进一步完善专利审查标准，优化商标审查规则，加强商标恶意抢注治理，强化驰名商标保护；聚焦加强知识产权执法保护，企业反馈了固定电商平台销售产品货值证据困难、立案难等问题，建议进一步加强网络监管，强化跨部门、跨地区执法协作；聚焦加强药品知识产权保护，企业希望进一步加强医药领域集中采购知识产权保护，将知识产权保护贯穿到药品采购全链条，等等。这些问题，都在现场得到了相关职能部门的积极回应和解答。

　　“各位代表都讲了各自的知识产权诉求，会后我们将进一步梳理，有针对性地加以解决。涉及其他部门职能的，我们也将通过国家知识产权强国建设工作部际联席会议机制，积极协调相关部门，推动问题解决。”申长雨表示。

　　这些年来，中国国家知识产权局始终坚持对国内外经营主体的知识产权一视同仁、同等保护，在完善顶层设计、优化管理体制、加强法治建设、提升保护效能、深化国际合作等方面做了大量工作，实现了知识产权治理能力和治理水平的大提升，为各国企业和创新主体营造了公平竞争的营商环境。

　　数据显示，2023年，中国知识产权保护社会满意度提高到了82分，创历史新高，其中外资企业满意度达到80.55分，比2022年提高了1.44分；国外来华知识产权申请量、授权量、保有量逐年快速提升，去年国外申请人在中国的有效发明专利拥有量突破了90万件，同比增长近5%，有效商标注册量突破了210万件，同比增长3.4%，充分显示了外资企业对中国市场的高度重视，对中国的知识产权保护充满信心。

　　接下来，中国国家知识产权局将不断提高知识产权保护工作水平，进一步完善知识产权保护体系、法律法规和平台机制，加强源头保护，助力营造更好的营商环境和创新环境。持续深化知识产权国际合作，积极推动完善知识产权国际规则和标准，助力形成更高水平的开放型经济。（李杨芳）

（文章来源：中国知识产权报）