To fully exhibit the IPR protection achievements of China in 2006, to publicize IPR protection work and to cooperate with "The National IPR Week 2007" and "China High-level Forum on Intellectual Property Rights Protection 2007", the website Intellectual Property Protection in China (IPR in China) has launched the election of 2006 Top Ten IPR Protection Events in China together with related media.

After nearly 3 months of recommendation, online solicitation, public vote and experts' appraisement, the "2006 Top Ten IPR Protection Events in China" emerged. Those include:

I. Central Committee of CPC calls for improving China's IPR system, and greatly elevating the abilities of IPR creation, management, protection and utilization.

On the afternoon of May 26, 2006, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held the 31st study meeting mainly discussing international IPR protection and construction of China's IPR legal and policy system.

General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Hu Jintao said at the meeting that China should work out a national Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) strategy backed up by a sound legal and policy system.

And he also said the new IPR strategy should concentrate on IPR creation, management, protection and utilization, which will help develop a batch of China's own IPR with core techniques and benefit the overall social and economic development.

"Only by doing so can China improve its innovation capability and adapt to the socialist market economy and the international environment," Hu said.

II. China enters into WIPO Copyright Treaty and WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty.

On December 29, 2006, the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress approved the proposal on joining WIPO Copyright Treaty and WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty.

III. The "Outline of IPR Protection Actions (2006-2007)" and the "China's Action Plan on IPR Protection 2006" are officially released.

In April 2006, the General Office of the State Council circulated the "Outline of IPR Protection Actions (2006-2007)" (GuoBanFa [2006] No.22), fully stipulating the guiding principles, working objectives, working requirements, focuses and principal measures, etc. in recent two years. According to the requirements of the Outline, local governments planned out relevant measures.

In February 2006, the State Office of Intellectual Property Protection, in conjunction with other members of the National Working Group for IPR Protection, formulated "China's Action Plan on IPR Protection 2006," clearly defining China's tasks in IPR protection in 2006. The Action Plan covers 9 areas: legislation, law enforcement, mechanism building, publicity, training and education, international communication and cooperation, promoting business self-discipline, services to right holders, and subject research. As of the end of 2006, all measures included in the Action Plan had been implemented and won applause from home and abroad.

IV. Great achievement has been gained in planning out China's IP strategy.

The formulation work of China's IP strategy made great breakthrough. The draft of the IP strategy has been completed and the appraisal of its 20 special topics will be conducted in succession.

V. "Ordinance on the Protection of the Right to Network Dissemination of Information" is promulgated by the State Council.

On May 18, 2006, China's Premier Wen Jiabao endorsed the Decree No.468 of the State Council to promulgate the "Ordinance on the Protection of the Right to Network Dissemination of Information," which took effect since July 1, 2006.

The Ordinance plays an important role in protecting the right to network dissemination of information of the copyright owners, performers and producers of audio-visual products, and is conducive to the development of material civilization and spiritual civilization.

VI. China sets up 50 service centers for IPR protection.

In 2006, in accordance with the arrangement of the "Outline of IPR Protection Actions (2006-2007)" and the deployment of national IPR protection work, 50 service centers for IPR protection have been established and put into operation. In addition, the unified IPR hotline "12312" has been opened for the public to report, complain and consult on IPR infringement.

On April 26, 2006, "Intellectual Property Protection in China" (www.ipr.gov.cn), the official website for National Working Group for IPR Protection, was grandly opened, followed by 50 service centers for IPR protection. The special columns for reporting and consulting have been opened on "Intellectual Property Protection in China" and its sub-websites, so as to receive online reports and complaints.

VII. "Shanghai Initiative" calls for intensified efforts with other countries in fighting IPR infringements.

From March 31 to April 1, 2006, the Ministry of Public Security and the State Office of Intellectual Property Protection co-hosted the 2006 China Forum on Criminal IPR Protection.

Representatives from China, International Criminal Police Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization the EU, the U.S., Canada, Australia, France and Germany and other law enforcement organizations in unanimously approved the "Shanghai Initiative" for the purpose of strengthening the exchange and co-operation of international law enforcement in protecting IPR as well as strengthening global joint effort in combating crimes that infringed on IPR.

VIII. China's patent applications top 3 million

On June 27, 2006, the number of patent applications filed to the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) had topped three million.

SIPO Director Tian Lipu said it took nearly 15 years for China to reach its first one million patent applications, following the introduction of the Patent Law in the mid-1980s. It then took about four years to reach the next one million, but it only took two more years to reach the three million mark.

"The rapid expansion of patent applications in China reflects the significant development of China's IP environment, and also indicates the country's focus on innovation and IP protection," Tian said.

IX. Ten governmental departments develop "100-day Campaign against Piracy".

On July 15, 2006, the National Anti-Pornography and Anti-Piracy Office, the ministries of culture, public security, construction and supervision, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, and the General Administration of Press and Publication joined forces to launch a 100-day crackdown on piracy ("100-day Campaign against Piracy").

From July 15 to the end of October, more than 58 million illegal publications had been confiscated, 4 illegal VCD and DVD production lines had been closed and more than 10,000 piracy and pornographic cases had been dealt with.

X. Domestic enterprise wins the Markman Order in a patent infringement case for the first time.

On May 23, 2006, General Protecht Group Inc, a Zhejiang-based company, received the Markman Order, after a two-year patent dispute lawsuit with the US electric company Leviton.

According to the Order, the court accepted the claims of General Protecht that its products are beyond the scope of Leviton's patent; General Protecht's products do not violate Leviton's patent rights. It is for the first time that China's enterprise won this kind of order from a US court.

On November 19, 2006, CCTV-2 invited the president of General Protecht Chen Wusheng to take part in "Dialogue" program, under the background of General Protecht's experience in safeguarding its right. It triggered the discussion on "Overseas IPR Protection of Chinese Enterprises."

(IPR in China April 19, 2007)