In recent years, Xiangyang in China’s Hubei province has relied on technologies such as big data, cloud computing and artificial intelligence to achieve large-scale, intensive and intelligent logistics operations. The picture shows two intelligent delivery robots passing through the fresh logistics center in Fancheng District, Xiangyang, according to the priority after they met on the cargo delivery track. Xinhua news agency reporter, photo by Huang Xiaoyong
Recently, Shen Changyu, director of the Chinese State Intellectual Property Office Bureau, said at a press conference held at the State Council Information Office that 2024, China has taken new steps to build itself into an intellectual property powerhouse, with the number and quality of patents steadily improving.
In terms of quantity, China has the largest number of the world’s Top 100 science and technology clusters for two consecutive years, and has become the largest holder of global artificial intelligence patents; in terms of quality, the protection of intellectual property rights has provided strong support for the high-quality development of private enterprises, and the protection of geographical indications has made positive progress.
Artificial Intelligence has a good momentum of development
In terms of intellectual property creation, 2024, our country has granted 1.045 million patents for inventions, approved 4.781 million trademark, registered 10.631 million copyrights, and identified 36 products of geographical indications, 125 geographical indications were registered as collective trademarks or certification trademarks, 5,797 rights of new varieties of agricultural plants and 878 rights of new varieties of forest and grass plants were granted. In the World Intellectual Property Organization’s 2024 Global Innovation Index Report, our country has risen to 11th place, with 26 of the world’s Top 100 science and technology clusters, for the second year in a row, it topped the world rankings.
In terms of the use of intellectual property rights, completed the inventory and value analysis of 1.349 million patents from more than 2700 universities and research institutions. In 2024 terms, our import and export value of intellectual property royalties amounted to 398.71 billion yuan, up by 5.9% year-on-year.
In the economic contribution of the copyright industry, according to the China Academy of Press and Publication Research, 2023, China’s copyright industry added value of 9.38 trillion yuan, accounting for 7.44% of GDP; The number of people employed in the copyright industry in urban areas was 15.7399 million, accounting for 9.62 percent of the country’s total. The value of merchandise exports in the copyright industry was US $414.613 billion, accounting for 12.27 percent of the country’s total, it has been stable above 11% for many years.
The field of artificial intelligence has a good momentum of development. The World Intellectual Property Organization report shows that our country has become the world’s largest owner of artificial intelligence patents, accounting for 60% . According to Shen Changyu, in recent years, the State Intellectual Property Office has further promoted innovation in the intellectual property system in the field of artificial intelligence, we should actively respond to and solve hot issues such as the subject of patent application, the object of protection, and the examination standards of artificial intelligence patents. In the future, we will accelerate the establishment of intellectual property protection rules for new fields and new forms of business such as artificial intelligence and big data, strengthen on-demand review services for patent applications in the field of artificial intelligence, and guide the construction of patent pools in the field of artificial intelligence, promoting the improvement of relevant international rules and standards.
Protect the legitimate rights and interests of private enterprises
The private economy contributed more than 60% of the GDP and more than 70% of technological innovation. Shen said the State Intellectual Property Office will effectively strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights of private enterprises and provide strong support for their high-quality development.
Active service for the demand of private enterprises to obtain rights. On the basis of improving the quality and efficiency of intellectual property rights examination, 2024 state-level intellectual property rights protection centers and rapid protection centers have accepted a total of 345,000 requests for pre-examination of patents, more than 70% of the requests are submitted by private enterprises, which effectively meets the needs of private enterprises to quickly obtain and confirm intellectual property rights.
Continue to do preferential enterprise services. We will launch trials to standardize public services related to intellectual property rights in 34 cities nationwide and actively explore measures to facilitate such services. The State Intellectual Property Office has issued guidelines covering all 72 intellectual property rights (IPR) related matters, providing clear and comprehensive guidelines for private enterprises to conduct various business, and continuously reducing the time limit for conducting business, we will do more to support the innovation and development of private enterprises.
Mentoring for resource alignment. Shen Changyu introduced that the patent industrialization promotion small and medium-sized enterprise growth plan has attracted nearly 17,000 private enterprises to participate. The relevant departments have promoted the inclusive finance of intellectual property rights, improved the risk-sharing mechanism and pledge disposal mechanism of intellectual property pledge financing, and benefited more than 40,000 private enterprises in the year of patent and trademark pledge financing.
To help enhance international competitiveness. We improved the early warning mechanism for overseas intellectual property risks, provided timely dispute resolution guidance services, and provided professional guidance to private enterprises more than 800 times throughout the year, helping private enterprises save more than 400 million yuan in response costs. We will hold various seminars as needed to support private enterprises in their efforts to distribute overseas intellectual property rights and lay a solid foundation for overseas investment.
Positive progress was made in the protection of geographical indications
Geographical indications are an effective carrier to promote the development of regional characteristic economy, and also a strong support to promote the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas. Hu Wenhui, deputy director of the State Intellectual Property Office, said that in recent years, positive progress has been made in the protection of geographical indications in our country. The State Intellectual Property Office has built 123 national demonstration zones for the protection of geographical indications.
In terms of system construction, we will optimize and improve the standard system for the protection of geographical indications, and issue and implement the recommended national standard”Basic terms of geographical indications”. The quality assurance system and inspection and testing system of geographical indications should be constructed on the basis of digitalization, networking and intelligence. For example, Guangxi Liuzhou has improved more than 570 standards for the whole snail vermicelli industry chain.
In terms of regulatory services, combined with the regulatory characteristics of geographical indications, we will continue to improve the means of administrative protection. For example, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, innovatively uses digital intelligence supervision to strengthen the source tracing, real-time monitoring and online identification of geographical indication products. Fujian yunxiao innovation introduces financial support to deepen the docking of government, banks and enterprises.
In terms of publicity and promotion, a cultural communication system for geographical indications should be established to continuously enhance the awareness of geographical indication protection in the whole society. Nanjing, Jiangsu, Wuzhou, Guangxi and other places will promote the deep integration of geographical indication protection and cultural tourism industry, extend the industrial chain of geographical indications, enhance the added value of geographical indications, and enrich the new format of cultural tourism, exploring the effective way to develop geographical indication industry and promote common prosperity.
In terms of exchanges and cooperation, China will improve the mechanism for the protection of foreign-related geographical indications and promote cooperation in the protection of geographical indications among Belt and Road countries. Chongqing G?tsu to establish a testing center with international certification, service G?TSU Pepper to the international market. Yunnan Baoshan integrates its advantages in planting, picking, production and processing to expand the overseas market for Baoshan Coffea Arabica.
“In the next step, we will anchor the goal of building a demonstration highland for the protection of geographical indications, accelerate the construction of high-level demonstration zones for the protection of geographical indications, and help the high-quality development of the geographical indication industry, so as to better serve the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas and the development of characteristic industries,” hu said.