China to start intellectual property rights pilot reform

The central government has decided to implement measures to improve intellectual property rights management and promote the nation's capacity for innovation, according to a guideline on a one-year pilot reform, which was released by the State Council on Thursday.

The guideline introduces the one-year pilot reform of intellectual property rights protection in certain regions, which will be selected by departments including the State Intellectual Property Office, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce and the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television.

The pilot reform will be carried out in regions that have been pioneers in intellectual property rights applications and enforcement, including patents, trademarks and copyrights, and have made enormous achievements in innovation, or have national innovation demonstration zones.

According to the guideline, efforts will include a comprehensive and effective management system of intellectual property rights, which will better serve the public and promote innovation-driven development.

The pilot reform will be extended further after a joint review by those departments under the State Council.

The State Intellectual Property Office accepted 1.1 million patent applications in 2015, a year-on-year increase of 18.7 percent. The number ranked first in the world for highest number of patents accepted. The office granted 263,000 patents in 2015, 100,000 more than the previous year.