On November 21st, the Office of the National Leading Group for Combating IPR Infringement and Counterfeiting of China announced at the press conference of The State Council Information Office that, during the first three quarters in 2014, in total of 112,700 cases of IPR infringement and selling counterfeit and shoddy goods were investigated in China, with 1938 hideouts for making and selling counterfeit goods being crashed. Besides, these cases demonstrate three new trends.

Firstly, crimes tend to be commissioned by small groups or gangs, and covering almost all aspects in regard of material supply, production, processing, and selling.

Secondly, internet and virtue market become the new orientation instead of the traditional physical market.

Thirdly, infringement cases are gradually hard to be supervised due to increased occurrence in the rural area or the rural-urban fringe zone.

In brief, China will continue to the fight against intellectual property infringements and counterfeiting, focusing more on the rural-urban fringe and e-commerce platforms. However, the complex and convert IPR infringement and counterfeiting cases call for joint law enforcement by relevant sectors.

(Source: China IP Magazine)