On November 4, 2022, the Quality Brand Protection Committee of China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment (QBPC) successfully held the 4th Dialogue on Administrative Protection of IPR of Foreign Invested Enterprises in Shanghai. More than 200 people including representatives of administrative law enforcement, criminal and civil judicial organs from 19 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, scholars, representatives of embassies and consulates, business associations and members of QBPC attended the event either on-site or virtually.
The dialogue was moderated by Tao Yang, Chair of Government Affairs and Public Policy Committee of QBPC. Michael Ding, Chair of QBPC, delivered the opening remarks. The keynote speakers included Kuang Xu, Deputy Director-General of the Law Enforcement Inspection Bureau of State Administration for Market Regulation, Huang Zhen, Deputy Director-General of Administration for Market Regulation of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Juli Schwartz, IPR Officer for East and Central China of the US Consulate General in Shanghai, Helene Juramy, Counsellor of the Trade Office of the EU Delegation to China, Bob Barchiesi, Chair of the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC), Zeeger Vink, Chair of the International Trademark Association (INTA) in 2022, Takashi Ota, Director of IPR of the Beijing Representative Office of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), John Anderson, Chair of Global Anti-Counterfeiting Group (GACG), Malek Hannouf, Chair of Brand Owner Protection Group (BPG).
Michael Ding
In his opening remarks, Michael first introduced the four key areas of focus of QBPC and its members. Later, he said that the members of QBPC were very much looking forward to the annual dialogue on administrative protection of IPR, which was an opportunity to discuss difficult issues, share best practices and make domestic and international exchanges. In addition to representatives from administrative departments, representatives from relevant criminal and civil judicial departments had also been invited this year. The abundant communication and interaction among relevant parties could further optimize the business environment for IPR and protect innovation.
At the meeting, the participants also witnessed the MOU signing between QBPC and the Office of Leading Group on Fight against IPR Infringement and Counterfeiting of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
There were three panel discussions, including "Whole-chain IPR Protection through Cross-Department, Cross-Sector and Cross-Region Law Enforcement Collaberation", "Conflicts between Registered Trademarks/Company Names and Prior Rights, and Anti-unfair Competition Law Enforcement and Judicial Practices" and "New Developments in Internet IPR Infringement Governance/Focusing on E-Commerce and Social Media". Officials from local courts, procuratorates, public security bureaus, customs authorities, market regulation and enforcement departments and representatives of IPR owners shared their experiences and conducted lively discussions, which benefited the participants a lot.
In the final concluding speech, Cao Hongying, Executive Vice President of China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment, on behalf of the Association, extended warm congratulations on the success of the event, and showed gratitude to the attending officials from the central and local judicial and law enforcement departments for their efforts in the administrative and judicial protection of IPR. He said that efficient and convenient administrative law enforcement of IPR had become a major method of legal protection of IPR in China. He hoped that QBPC could strengthen communication and close cooperation with relevant departments, further improve the efficiency of law enforcement, strengthen the efforts to fight against infringement and counterfeiting, and work together to promote China's IPR protection to a new high.
Cao Hongying
Product identification booths were set up outside the meeting venue, through which some members of QBPC promoted the knowledge of identifying counterfeiting goods and introduced the latest trend of infringement and counterfeiting to the participants.
Since 2019, QBPC has held the Dialogue on Administrative Protection of IPR of Foreign Invested Enterprises once a year, aiming to establish a long-term communication mechanism between IPR owners and the administrative law enforcement departments, so as to help the two sides understand each other's work characteristics and needs, and solve practical problems.