China's top court pledged to increase efforts to tackle intellectual property rights, or IPR, after the central government released new guidelines on IPR protection.
"Judicial protection of IPR must be strengthened, including handling of disputes in innovative ways," said Tao Kaiyuan, vice president in charge of IPR case hearings for the Supreme People's Court. She said this during a news conference on IPR protection organized by the State Council Information Office, China Daily reported Feb. 28.
On Feb. 27, Beijing announced guidelines aimed at improving trials involving IPR cases, saying improved efficiency, stronger IPR protection and better judicial credibility should be key features. Detailed measures included building a compensation system for IPR infringement, stepping up the creation of IPR courts and building up IPR trial talent.
Premier Li Keqiang, who chaired a State Council executive meeting in November 2017, further weighed in, saying "enhancing the protection of intellectual property rights is a matter of overall strategic significance."
These measures were announced as President Xi Jinping’s top economic adviser, Liu He, headed to the U.S. to meet with officials for trade talks. Among the contentious issues in U.S.-China trade relations that is expected to be raised during his Feb. 27-March 3 visit would be the enforcement of IPR.
President Donald Trump in Jan. 18 told Reuters in an interview that the U.S. was considering a big "fine" against China's alleged theft of intellectual property. Trump said China had forced U.S. companies to transfer their intellectual property to China as a condition for doing business in the country.
While Trump did not specify what he meant by a "fine" against China, the 1974 trade law that authorized an investigation into China's alleged theft of U.S. intellectual property allows his administration to impose tariffs on Chinese goods or other trade sanctions.
