State Council aims to achieve IPR protection goals by 2020

The State Council promulgated an outline of the new IPR strategy on June 6, containing goals to raise the public's awareness on IPR protection in five years as well as to establish China as an innovative country with high level of IPR creation by 2020.

The strategy focuses on the perfection of the IPR system, promotion of IPR creation, avoidance of IPR abuse and nurturing respect for IPR. Domestic enterprises are also encouraged to apply for foreign patents, and the government, in order to increase society's awareness of IPR, will provide financial assistance to domestic IPR applicants.

“It's good news for Chinese lawyers, especially for IP lawyers,” said Chen Jihong, partner at Zhong Lun Law Firm. Determined to achieve their goal by 2020, the government will take action to improve both the enforcement system and the People's Court. When more domestic companies are encouraged to enforce their trademarks and copyrights, the volume of disputes will inevitably increase, Chen said. Lawyers, not to mention domestic companies, will also benefit from the improvements.