IPR2 is preparing to conclude its four-year implementation in September 2011. Following a closing ceremony in Beijing at the EU Delegation to China, a closing event will be held in Brussels on 13 September to present a retrospective of 4 years of this close co-operation to institutional and industry stakeholders in Europe.

June 2011

IPR2 has published a reference for best practices on the use of Intellectual Property as a strategic business development tool in the creative and cultural industries (CCIs). Most transactions between European and Chinese companies of the CCIs take the form of IP licensing agreements that govern the reproduction, distribution, adaptation, public performance as well as other forms to trade in cultural and creative goods and services. This publication provides CCIs with information to help manage and exploit their IP rights in Europe and China.

14 May 2011, Shenzhen

IPR2 together with the Ministry of Commerce of China held a seminar and workshops in support of China and Europe’s Cultural and Creative industries (CCIs). It was organised in the margin of the 7th China International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) in Shenzhen as a platform for involving more stakeholders in an initiative to map the economic importance of these industries and better understand the policies and regulatory provisions governing them. Furthermore, to share experiences and best practices on the use of IP as a strategic business development tool.

May 2011, Beijing

IPR2 has developed an e-learning module based on training given by the European Patent Office on the scope of patent protection under the European Patent Convention (EPC), specifically Article 69. Article 69 and the protocol on its interpretation exist to ensure the uniform interpretation of patent claims in Europe despite traditional differences between countries. The purpose of this module is to shed more light on the principles applied to the interpretation of the scope of patent claims, principles which have been developed by case law.

May 2011, Beijing

A new issue in the IPR2 series 'Roadmaps for Intellectual Property Protection' is available – Trade Secrets Protection in China. Companies doing business in China should be particularly aware of the importance of protecting their trade secrets. Although a legal framework for trade secret protection has been established in China, it is relatively new. Businesses need to protect their trade secret to maintain their competitive edge: once a trade secret is disclosed its commercial value is often lost. With the ongoing globalisation and digitisation of society, safeguarding trade secrets has become a more significant challenge for many businesses.

May 2011, Beijing

A new issue in the IPR2 series 'Roadmaps for Intellectual Property Protection' is available – Trade Secrets Protection in Europe. It provides an overview of how trade secrets are protected in the European Union. A trade secret is different from other forms of intellectual property, in that its protection requires good will and maintenance and in some cases it is the most attractive, effective and readily available intellectual property right. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular may not be aware of the risks as their business grows, and should take measures to protect their trade secrets against misappropriation.

January 2011

IPR2 has published a working paper on 'Mapping the Cultural and Creative Sectors in the EU and China' as part of an action plan to bring the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) together to exchange information and experiences on the functioning of both markets, and to help to shape policy and legislation. CCIs are important drivers of innovation in other industries and societies and this is a first step to better recognise the potential value of such IP rights and to seek opportunities for increased commercial exchange between Europe and China. 

August 2010, Beijing 

The Customs Protection Regulation of China was amended on 24 March 2010 by the State Council and National People’s Congress (NPC) and came into effect on 1 April 2010. The new provisions allow China Customs to be more effective in dealing with infringement across borders, dealing with detained goods and working together with right holders.  The Roadmap series aims to provide information on the IP systems in China and Europe and to give guidance to both European and Chinese companies in protecting their IP. All issues are available to download free-of-charge at www.ipr2.org/roadmap. 

July 2010, Beijing

IPR2 has developed an e-learning module based on training given to hundreds of enforcement officials and companies in China on the various means of enforcing intellectual property in the EU. It is an especially useful reference for right holders who are keen to protect their IPR efficiently and effectively in Europe as well as those who may not be fully informed of the importance of IPR enforcement and what is at stake for a company.

23 June 2010, Dalian

IPR2 organised a seminar to further build mutual understanding of intellectual property protection in the software and service outsourcing industry, together with the China Association of Trade in Services (CATIS), under the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), in cooperation with the Copyright Protection Centre of China (CPCC) and the Dalian Copyright Protection Association. The event aimed to build understanding on the challenges and means of improving the international competitiveness of enterprises and the overall development of this industry. 

April 2010, Beijing

The second amendment of China's Copyright Law will come into force on 1 April 2010. Most notably, this includes a revision of Article 4 which provides that copyright owners who exercise their copyright shall not violate the Constitution, laws or prejudice the public interest and the State shall perform supervision over publication or distribution of works as prescribed by law; and Article 26 which cites a new provision whereby using copyright as pledged property, the pledger and pledgee should register the pledge with the Copyright Administration of the State Council. The IPR2 Roadmap for Copyright Protection in China has been updated to include a reference to the new amendment. 

February 2010, Beijing

The Patent Protection in China issue in the IPR2 series 'Roadmaps for Intellectual Property Protection' has been updated in line with the new Implementing Regulations and Examination Guidelines. Issued by the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO), these came into force on 1 February 2010, in accordance with the revised Patent Law of 1 October 2009. The Roadmap provides an overview of the Chinese patent system, indicating the main areas of the third revision which bring a number of substantial changes to the Chinese patent system; as well as the implementing rules for these amendments and updated examination guidelines, which set forth the procedural provisions governing all pending cases. 

February  2010, Beijing

The IPR2 series 'Roadmaps for Intellectual Property Protection' is now available on CD. The Roadmaps aim to provide information on the IP systems in China and Europe and to give guidance to both European and Chinese companies in protecting their IP.

February 2010, Beijing

As part of its work on supporting right holders of intellectual property, IPR2 provides training modules for broad-based learning on intellectual property protection. These modules will be developed from trainings on current intellectual property protection issues and knowledge and insights from IP experts over the course of IPR2’s implementation.

13 November 2009, Chongqing

IPR2 supported a public forum on the protection of Geographical Indications (GIs) and appellation of origin, together with the Chongqing Municipal government, the authorities in charge of intellectual property, agriculture, quality and technology supervision in Europe and China as well as industry, as part of progressing EU-China negotiations on mutual GI recognition.  

October 2009, Beijing

The Patent Protection in China issue in the IPR2 series 'Roadmaps for Intellectual Property Protection'  has been updated in line with the new Patent Law which came into force on 1 October 2009. It provides an overview of the Chinese patent system and indicates the main areas of the third revision which bring a number of substantial changes to the Chinese patent system. The Implementing Regulations, which are not yet finalised, will set forth the procedural provisions governing all pending cases. This issue cites some of the proposed amendments to the draft Implementing Regulations for reference, and will be further updated once they are approved. Download 396 KB

August 2009, Beijing

A new issue in the IPR2 series 'Roadmaps for Intellectual Property Protection' is now available – How to Register and Protect a Community Trademark in Europe. A Community Trademark (CTM) is a supranational, unitary, exclusive intellectual property right valid and enforceable in the EU’s 27 Member States, and therefore a market of almost 500 million consumers. CTMs are governed by the Community Trademark Regulation and administered exclusively by the Office for the Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM). While the CTM system does not replace the national trademark systems and OHIM does not replace the single industrial property offices of the EU-Member States, the existence of a supranational system gives trademark owners the possibility to choose, based on their business needs, an additional protection route once they have decided to enter a specific market. Download  627KB

27 May 2009, Chengdu

IPR2 supported a one-day training for local officials and industry in the Chengdu High-Tech Incubation Park, together with the EU Project Incubation Centre. Local IP authorities and some 80 participants representing local industry and law firms attended the training to learn more about how an IP strategy can help a company to do business where it wants and achieve and maintain the competitive advantage it seeks.

18 June, Beijing and 19 June 2009, Dalian    

IPR2 supported the implementation of two seminars aimed at enhancing the mutual understanding of intellectual property protection in the software and service outsourcing industry. Co-organised by the China Association of Trade in Services (CATIS), under the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), both events aimed to build understanding on the challenges and means of improving the international competitiveness of enterprises and the overall development of this industry. 

June 2009, Beijing

A new issue in the IPR2 series 'Roadmaps for Intellectual Property Protection' is available – How to Register and Protect a Community Design in Europe. A Community design is a right for the external appearance of a product or part of it, resulting from the features of the product itself and/or its ornamentation valid for all 27 Member States of the European Union and directly enforceable in all of these countries. This issue covers the term and scope of protection in Europe, the requirements for protection, the registration process and the key means (civil, administrative and criminal means) of enforcing a Community design. Download.