Wang Chuang, vice president of the Intellectual Property Tribunal of the Supreme People’s Court at the press conference on Sept 9.

Intellectual property courts in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou have reached phase achievement goals, laying a solid foundation for the future, according to an official from the Supreme People’s Court.

Wang Chuang, vice president of the Intellectual Property Tribunal of the court, described the operational situation of the three IP courts established at the end of last year at a press conference held at the Supreme People’s Court on Sept 9.

The first of the presiding judges, ancillary judicial personnel, and judicial administrators in the three courts have been selected and inaugurated, and the second phase of appointments is underway in Beijing and Guangzhou.

To achieve streamlining and efficiency, the IP courts have less complex organization than ordinary ones, Wang said. For example, in cooperation with the Shanghai No 3 Intermediate People’s Court, which undertakes registration, execution and other affairs, the Shanghai IP Court administers only two judicial tribunals and a technical investigation office.

The trial efficiency of the IP courts has conspicuously increased, Wang said. As of Aug 20, the three IP courts had accepted 10,795 cases, of which 4,160 have been settled.

Wang said that to pursue more transparent and open judicature the three courts hold press conferences, have opened official websites and Weibo microblogging accounts, and established public open days. He added that the administrative functions of the court’s president and presiding judges will be simplified and replaced by procedural advice.

Moreover, the first group of volunteers has begun contributing to legal actions and trial affairs in the Beijing Intellectual Property Court, which will become a long-term mechanism. To that end, the court has cooperated with the law schools of Peking University, Tsinghua University, and other institutions, recruiting outstanding experts and students to join in relevant research. To date, 106 public jurors have been chosen by the court. Wang Chuang, vice president of the Intellectual Property Tribunal of the Supreme People’s Court at the press conference on Sept 9.