WIPO China: Digital Landscape Offers New Opportunities for Global IP Governance — CIFTIS 2023 Series Report II

September 6, 2023

Beijing, September 4 - The 2023 Summit on Fighting Against Infringement And Counterfeiting, a featured event at the China International Fair for Trade in Services 2023 (CIFTIS), was held in Beijing. Themed "Fighting Against IPR Infringement and Counterfeiting and Boosting Consumers’ Confidence," the Summit addressed three main topics: combating infringement and counterfeiting, boosting consumers’ confidence, and promoting societal governance. Ms. Wang Binying, Deputy Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), sent a congratulatory letter to the Summit.

woc-2023-news0034-1-845 — Summit on Fighting Against Infringement And Counterfeiting (Photo: WIPO Office in China)

In her letter, Ms. Wang acknowledged China's strong and consistent performance in the Global Innovation Index (GII) and highlighted the prominent role of China in combatting infringement and counterfeiting. She stressed the profound impact of infringement and counterfeiting on economic stability, public health, innovation and brand credibility, and stated that dealing with these issues requires collective societal responsibility beyond just legal enforcement.

Photo: Binying WANG — (Photo: WIPO | Berrod)

Ms. Wang noted that in this digital age, new technologies not only pose challenges but also provide innovative solutions for intellectual property (IP) protection. WIPO's establishment of an IP and Frontier Technologies Division and the "Conversation on IP and Frontier Technologies" was cited as a commitment to addressing these evolving issues. China's efforts in enhancing IP protection and its engagement in global governance under WIPO were commended. Looking ahead, WIPO anticipates ongoing collaboration with China to further innovation and strengthen the global IP framework.

In recent years, the Chinese government has made great efforts to build China into an IP power and a quality country, vigorously strengthened IP protection, and severely cracked down on infringement and counterfeiting. In particular, it has attached great importance to deepening international exchanges and cooperation, deeply participated in global IP governance under the framework of WIPO, and effectively fostered a market-oriented, law-based, international business environment and a favourable consumer environment to achieve the high-quality development of the economy and society.

Strengthening cooperation with WIPO was the focus of attention of the esteemed speakers at the Summit. Ms. Gan Lin, Vice Minister of the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), highlighted the GII 2022 released by WIPO, which indicates that China's standing in the realm of innovation continues to ascend with ranking 11th globally, as a testament to China's commitment to combating infringement and counterfeiting. Mr. Jiang Zengwei, Chairman of the Global Alliance for Trade in Services, underscored the importance of building a framework of international trust for IP protection through avenues such as joining the WIPO and entering into bilateral or multilateral agreements. Mr. Li Jian, Vice President of the Third Civil Division of the Supreme People's Court (SPC), shared the latest results of the cooperation between Chinese courts and WIPO, including the co-authorship of the first title of “WIPO Collection of Leading Judgments on Intellectual Property", contribution of Chinese judges to “An International Guide to Patent Case Management for Judges” published by WIPO, and the signing of MoU between WIPO Director General Daren Tang and SPC Chief Justice Zhang Jun in April, which agreed to deepen the collaboration across various areas including information sharing, talent development, and alternative dispute resolution.

The Summit, jointly hosted by WIPO, SAMR, Office of Leading Group on Coordinated Implementation of Building a Quality-powered Nation, People's Government of Beijing Municipality, China Consumers Association and GATS, served as a critical international platform for collaboration and dialogue on combatting IP infringement and counterfeiting. Representatives from relevant government ministries, market regulation departments, embassies based in China, industry associations, as well as both domestic and international businesses attended the Summit, shared and exchanged views, and reached a broad consensus on combating infringement and counterfeiting, and promoting the quality and efficiency in consumption.