Overseas criminal gangs are to blame for some Chinese companies
producing counterfeit products, according a senior official.
The increase in made-in-China pirated and counterfeit products
found around the world in recent years are partly because of
ignorance of domestic firms, said Tian Lipu, commissioner of the
State Intellectual Property Office.
"Lacking awareness of intellectual property (IP) protection,
many Chinese enterprises produce strictly according to the orders
they receive from overseas," he said. "Some foreign criminal groups
take advantage of this weakness and export to overseas
markets."
Tian explained some Chinese manufacturers focus mainly on
increasing quality and reducing costs to sharpen their competitive
edge in the international market - but they seldom care about what
label is attached to the products they make or whether the
technology is protected by IP-related laws.
Some major trade partners, including the United States, complain
that pirated goods made in China have spread around the world and
cost their firms billions of dollars a year.
Tian called for international collaboration to crack down on IP
piracy of this kind, which he described as an international
phenomenon.
As for China's ongoing IP disputes with the United States at the
World Trade Organization (WTO) over copyright piracy and
restrictions on the sale of American movies, music and books in
China, Tian said Washington "should drop the charges" as they are
groundless.
He said the two sides are in consultation but declined to reveal
what progress has been made.
It is the third time that the United States has taken China to
the global trade body in about a year, after cases against
Beijing's regulations on imports of auto spare parts and industrial
subsidies.
The Chinese government criticized Washington for filing the
complaints at the WTO, saying the move will hurt bilateral trade
relations.
Tian said the United States ignored the Chinese government's
massive efforts and achievements in strengthening IPR protection
and tightening enforcement of its copyright laws.
(China Daily July 4, 2007)