From 2021 to 2023, China has intensified its battle against intellectual property rights (IPR) infringement, leading to the indictment of over 44,000 individuals. According to a white paper released by the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP), these efforts reflect China's commitment to protecting innovation and fostering a fair business environment.
During these three years, procuratorial organs across the nation approved the arrests of 17,547 individuals involved in more than 10,600 cases of IPR infringement. The most common violations included trademark infringement, which remained a significant issue. However, there was a notable rise in cases related to copyright infringement and the theft of trade secrets. In 2023 alone, copyright infringement cases increased by 1.4 times compared to the previous year, while trade secret violations surged by an impressive 96.6 percent.
The white paper highlights that regions with strong economic development, particularly China's eastern coastal areas, saw a higher number of IPR infringement cases. This trend indicates a correlation between economic prosperity and the frequency of such violations, suggesting that as areas develop, the protection of intellectual property becomes increasingly vital.
Gong Ming, deputy procurator-general of the SPP, emphasized the proactive measures being taken. He stated that procuratorial organs are conducting special operations to enhance the protection of original enterprise innovation continuously. Furthermore, they are committed to enforcing punishments for crimes that threaten the core technologies essential to businesses, ensuring that intellectual property rights are upheld in accordance with the law.
These rigorous actions signify China's dedication to creating a robust environment for innovation and equitable competition, which is crucial for the global economy and international business partnerships.
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Over 44,000 indicted for IPR infringement from 2021 to 2023 in China
cgtn.com
