December 1, 2011

The Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has announced its decision to set up a legal help center to provide intellectual property right (IPR) protection services to Chinese companies that have businesses abroad in its bid to reduce IPR disputes and conflicts.

According to MOFCOM's Department of Treaties and Law, the new center will release early warning information on IPR, establish IPR expert and law databases, conduct surveys on IPR competition and environment in major industries, establish dispute settlement mechanisms to handle major foreign-related IPR cases, facilitate the settlement of major IPR cases through inter-governmental IPR exchange mechanisms, provide IPR protection services relating to exhibitions held outside of the mainland, and assist Chinese companies in raising their awareness of and capabilities in IPR protection through training, seminars and publicity.

IPR has become a core factor in global competition. With the rapid growth of China’s overseas investments, Chinese companies have encountered an increasing number of IPR disputes in recent years. This has dampened their enthusiasm to compete in global markets and harmed the development of China’s economic and trade relations with other countries.

The help center will mobilize various government departments, trade associations, experts and enterprises to help Chinese companies with businesses abroad to protect their own legitimate rights and interests, better understand the IPR systems of other countries, and increase their capabilities in protecting their IPR abroad.