IP scene
Beijing
IP grows but more work still to do
The China Intellectual Property Development Status Evaluation Report 2017 was released in Beijing on June 12. The report revealed that the composite index of China's intellectual property has risen by 9 percent year-on-year, bringing the country to a rank of 29th worldwide. The report concluded that the environment for intellectual property still needs to develop in China.
Guangdong
World Cup fakes seized by customs
Customs officials from Guangzhou inspect World Cup branded products.
Guangzhou Customs has hunted down and seized more than 7,800 footballs and tracksuits that allegedly infringe upon intellectual property. With the 2018 FIFA World Cup in full swing, the General Administration of Customs is determined to enhance the intellectual property protection for the event. The footballs and tracksuits seized are suspected of infringing the trademark rights of the FIFA World Cup, and brands adidas, Nike, Dsquared and Polo Ralph Lauren.
Heilongjiang
Payout ordered in trademark case
A court ruled that Daqing Xusheng Real Estate Development Co has infringed rights of Chinese grains and food conglomerate COFCO by using the trademark Joy City. Daqing Xusheng was sentenced to pay 1.2 million yuan ($185,363) to COFCO in compensation. COFCO has registered the Chinese character trademark "Dayuecheng", and the English trademark Joy City since 2010 and has operated 14 real estate projects with the above two trademarks in 12 cities nationwide.
Yunnan
National training held in Kunming
The State Intellectual Property Office held an intellectual property training session for national elementary and secondary schools in Kunming, Yunnan province on June 14.
Heads of intellectual property offices nationwide and more than 130 elementary and secondary school teachers attended the class. The State Intellectual Property Office will further collaborate with the Ministry of Education to strengthen intellectual property education in all schools, aiming to enhance students' awareness of intellectual property and innovation. By educating a student to influence a family and then the whole society, the State Intellectual Property Office is devoted to improving intellectual property awareness in the country.
Beijing
First bids open for product identity
The State Intellectual Property Office accepted the first 10 applications for the protection of geographical indication products by law on June 12.
The first 10 applications have been submitted by the geographical indication administrations of the places of origin, such as Hebei, Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and Guizhou. China has protected geographical indications since 1996. As of now, China has protected the geographical indications for 2,359 products, which has played an important role in protecting national brands and inheriting traditional culture.
New York
Global Innovation Index to come out
The Global Innovation Index 2018 will be released in New York City on July 10. The index provides detailed metrics about the innovation performance of 126 countries and economies around the world. Its 80 indicators explore a broad range of innovation, including political environment, education, infrastructure and business development. The GII is a leading reference for measuring a country's innovation performance.
Now in its second decade, the GII has established itself as a "tool for action" for decision-makers, leading to the improvement of innovation metrics, the removal of obstacles to innovation and the shaping of efficient national innovation policy strategies.