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3 November 2014Patents

China IP court to open by the end of the year

A judge at China’s highest court has said he is confident that a specialist IP court will be set up by the end of the year, it has been claimed.

Wang Chuang, vice-president of the IP division at the Supreme People’s Court, has reportedly confirmed that a new court focused on patent, trademark and copyright disputes should be open by the end of the year.

Chuang said “this will be an important revolution of the country’s judicial system to deal with IP-related cases” and that it is a “step to promote the development of China’s emerging industries”.

According to reports, including in the South China Morning Post, the first court is expected to open in the Guangdong province with three cities—Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai—vying to host it.

More IP courts could be opened in capital city Beijing and Shanghai shortly afterwards.

Plans to open an IP court were initially announced by the Chinese government at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee meeting, held in Beijing in November last year.

Historically, China has thought to have had problems combating IP infringement.

Earlier this year, WIPR reported on trademark squatting cases involving French winemaker Castel and electric car manufacturer Tesla.

But recent efforts have been made in the country to combat counterfeiting.

Online retailer AliBaba recently signed a deal with British trade body China-Britain Business Council to help remove products that infringe existing trademarks.

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