9-11 July 2008, Shanghai

IPR2 supported the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) together with the Quality Brands Protection Committee of China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment (QBPC) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to organise an International Conference convening senior Chinese and international IP judges, including judges from Europe. This high-level platform highlighted the strong prospects for a long-term exchange between the Chinese and European judiciary.

China has made great efforts and improvements with regard to the completion and adjustment of its IP system over the past two decades. One key requirement for the functioning of the system is the application and implementation of these laws by the judiciary in accordance with the rule of law. The goal of this activity was to support a high-level exchange platform between Chinese and foreign judges which could potentially create long term exchanges on these issues. During the conference high level Chinese and foreign IP judges provided input on various matters arising in IP litigation. Insofar, the presentations and discussion covered the most important points of IP infringement litigation.

This conference resulted in a detailed and comprehensive professional exchange and meant that Chinese judges could strengthen the network with their foreign counterparts. In turn it allowed foreign judges to form closer ties with their colleagues in China, which will enable a sustained exchange and interaction between different jurisdictions in the future.

With IPR protection being a pillar of Chinese national policy, SPC Vice President Xi Xiaoming, in his keynote speech, called for a full exchange of information, expanding common understanding and enhancing co-operation among the international participants, towards stronger IPR protection.