The State Council promulgated an outline of the new IPR strategy on June 6, containing goals to raise the public’s awareness on IPR protection in five years as well as to establish China as an innovative country with high level of IPR creation by 2020.

The strategy focuses on the perfection of the IPR system, promotion of IPR creation, avoidance of IPR abuse and nurturing respect for IPR. Domestic enterprises are also encouraged to apply for foreign patents, and the government, in order to increase society’s awareness of IPR, will provide financial assistance to domestic IPR applicants.

“It’s good news for Chinese lawyers, especially for IP lawyers,” said Chen Jihong, partner at Zhong Lun Law Firm. Determined to achieve their goal by 2020, the government will take action to improve both the enforcement system and the People’s Court. When more domestic companies are encouraged to enforce their trademarks and copyrights, the volume of disputes will inevitably increase, Chen said. Lawyers, not to mention domestic companies, will also benefit from the improvements.

Meanwhile, the government will actively promote the strategy and enforce the regulations. “It is very important that the government should revise the IPR legal system,” Chen said. Since this strategy is promulgated by the State Council, Chen believes that the government will enforce this law strictly at all levels.

“I think that the Central government takes this strategy very seriously. They will ensure that the local governments will enforce properly and strictly. I think this regulation will lead to significant results in terms of promoting IPR protection,” Chen said.