China's record of intellectual property right (IPR) protection has been unfairly criticized by some sections of the international community for various reasons, such as infringements or theft of intellectual property. This, however, cannot negate the rapid progress the country has made in development and protection of intellectual property. On the occasion of the 2020 World Intellectual Property Day, which was April 26, the National Intellectual Property Administration (NIPA) released information on the development of China's IPR system in 2019. Facts show that the Chinese legal system for IPR protection has been greatly strengthened. In 2019, China issued the Opinions on Strengthening the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights, completed an amendment to the Trademark Law, increased the amount of statutory compensation for malicious infringements upon trademarks, and formulated or revised multiple regulations and rules regarding patent licensing, patent agent examination and trademark application, among others.

China is also increasingly cracking down on violations of IPR laws and regulations. In 2019, the country launched targeted campaigns such as Iron Fist, Sword Net, Net Sword and Dragon Fly. Procuratorates across the country approved arrest of 7,430 persons in 4,346 criminal cases of IPR infringement. The level of public satisfaction with IPR protection in China increased to 78.89 points out of 100.

Some believe the progress in China's IPR protection is a result of the international community's pressure on the Chinese Government. In fact, China is strengthening IPR protection not just to promote international cooperation, but also to serve its own development.

NIPA figures show that in 2019, there were 1.86 million invention patents registered in the Chinese mainland, or 13.3 patents per 10,000 people; China filed 59,000 international patent applications via the Patent Cooperation Treaty, becoming the world's top patent filer; the country also filed 6,339 international trademark registration applications via the Madrid System, the international registration of trademarks, ranking third globally and the first among middle-income economies. China has become a veritable major country in terms of intellectual property development.

China's intellectual property development and progress urgently requires the strengthening of IPR protection. In the week around every year's World Intellectual Property Day, China's intellectual property authorities hold publicity activities for the public to get to know the latest intellectual property development in China, the IPR-related laws and severe punishment for violation of these laws. Compared with two or three decades ago, the public in China is more aware of protecting IPRs.

Although China has already become a major IPR country, it is still not an IPR powerhouse yet. Take the patent-intensive industry as an example, which indicates the effect of a country's innovation-driven development. In 2019, the added value of patent-intensive industries accounted for 16.1 percent of the GDP in the EU, while the proportion was only 11.6 percent in China. China still has a long way to go in IPR development and protection.

(Print Edition Title: Advances in IPR Protection)