Government warns officials against IPR violations
(Xinua)
Updated: 2006-04-28 11:10
The Chinese government published an action plan on Wednesday to crack down on
infringements of intellectual property rights (IPR) over the next two years and
has vowed to prosecute local government officials who fail to follow the
plan.
An official with a task force for IPR protection under the
government said the plan highlighted the government's determination to protect
IPR.
The plan promises to improve the country's legal framework, and
increase administrative and judicial efforts to protect IPR.
China's
crackdown on IPR infringements will encourage independent innovation and
safeguard the legitimate interests and rights of IPR holders, says the
plan.
Copyright piracy, trademark and patent infringements have been
listed as a top priority.
Local governments are instructed to firmly
clamp down on pirated audio and video disks, and on shipments of pirated
products by mail, air, road and rail.
Local leaders will be held
accountable for failures to protect intellectual property rights, and officials
will be prosecuted if they are suspected of covering up IPR infringements,
including failures to report criminal offences, says the plan.
It calls
for closer cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to
curb violations of IPR laws and regulations.
It also aims to improve
awareness and capability in the corporate world, research institutions, and
schools of higher learning, encouraging them to create, manage, use and
safeguard IPR. Public education will also be strengthened.
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