China has seen a notable increase in patents and trademarks granted to foreign entities, reflecting enhanced confidence in the country's intellectual property (IP) protection measures.
According to the latest data from the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), the number of effective invention patents owned by foreign applicants in the Chinese mainland surpassed 900,000 last year, marking a nearly 5 percent year-on-year increase. Similarly, the trademark sector experienced growth, with valid trademark registrations by foreign applicants in the Chinese mainland exceeding 2.1 million, a 3.4 percent rise compared to the previous year.
Shen Changyu, head of the CNIPA, highlighted this upward trend during a recent symposium attended by 11 foreign-funded enterprises, including industry giants like AstraZeneca, Ford Motor, LEGO, and Tesla. “This growth indicates foreign enterprises' confidence in China’s IP protection,” Shen remarked.
Addressing the concerns of foreign companies, Shen emphasized that the Chinese mainland remains committed to providing equal IP protection to both domestic and foreign enterprises. Representatives from the attending foreign enterprises also presented their own IP protection needs and suggestions at the symposium held earlier this month, underscoring the collaborative efforts to further strengthen IP frameworks.
Reference(s):
Foreign patent holders surge in China as IP protection strengthens
cgtn.com
