Foreign governments and companies should strengthen cooperation
and actively provide solutions to combat piracy and protect
intellectual property rights (IPR) in China, participants said
during a panel discussion focused on China’s intellectual property
issues.
IPR protection was one of the China-related topics discussed at
the 2005 Fortune Global Forum in Beijing, which concludes this
afternoon. According to David Frazee, a shareholder of Greenberg
Traurig, industries such as film, entertainment, trademark and
pharmaceuticals are victims of piracy in China.
Wang Jingchuan, commissioner of State
Intellectual Property Office, reiterated the country’s
determination to combat piracy and develop IPR protection
systems.
Although China’s IPR system was only established some 20-odd
years ago, it has already seen great progress, Wang said.
For example, China’s General
Principles of the Civil Law and Criminal Law have provisions for
the protection of IPR. Further, IPR violators can face up to seven
years in prison.
"As I know, it is the most severe penalty in the world," Wang
said.
In May 2004, the National IPR Protection Team, headed by Vice
Premier Wu Yi, was set up. Its purpose is to coordinate law
enforcement in the different regions and departments. Last
September, a special campaign was launched targeting IPR violations
in the areas of patents, trademarks and copyrights.
In order to deal with IPR issues more effectively, Wang says
that his team keeps abreast of developments around the world by
exchanging opinions with multinational companies and foreign
enterprises in China.
"China is not the only country that has fallen victim to IPR
infringements,” Wang added.
Protecting IPR in a reasonable and effective way is a global
issue, and he urged for greater international cooperation.
Dan Glickman, president and CEO of Motion Picture Association of
America, Inc., also spoke highly of the progress that China has
made in IPR protection.
Using films as an example, Glickman suggested focusing on market
entry to combat piracy.
Chinese people can buy thousands of pirated DVDs on the streets,
but only 20 or so foreign films are distributed to Chinese cinemas
each year, he said.
Zhang Yao, CEO of Phillips Electronic China, said that the
company appreciates the Chinese government's efforts in the fight
against piracy, and encouraged more experts and the public to join
the battle against IPR violation.
He set forth a principle of technology and knowledge
sharing.
Phillips Electronics has to date cooperated with several Chinese
universities to set up three intellectual property schools.
“We hope to train more IPR professionals, and accordingly help
IPR protection in China.”
The company’s efforts have begun to reap rewards. Last week, the
company won a case against a man who produced fake copies of its
lights. The violator was sentenced to 4-5 years in prison.
Jeffrey B. Kindler, vice chairman of Pfizer Inc., was also
positive about the Chinese government’s efforts, saying that the
situation is encouraging.
“Compared with the United States and European Union, China has
not been fighting the IPR issues for very long and it has had to
start from scratch, but it has already made progress,” Kindler
said.
Kindler regards fake medicine as a big threat to the industry,
urging more law enforcement against producers of fake goods.
(China.org.cn by staff reporter Tang Fuchun, May 18, 2005)