OECD Intellectual Property Rights Meetings in China

The OECD and the Chinese government are organizing two events on intellectual property rights policy, protection and enforcement. Both will highlight the importance of efficient patenting systems in promoting technological innovation and modernizing China's economy.

The events, are as follows:

• High-Level Workshop on Intellectual Property Rights and Economic Development in China: Meeting Challenges and Opportunities Following WTO Entry, Beijing, 20-21 April 2004, organized in co-operation with the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) and The Development Center of the State Council, to examine linkages between IPR protection and economic development in China
• A High-Level Seminar on Intellectual Property Rights Issues Related to Public Research Institutions, Beijing, 22-23 April 2004, organized in co-operation with the Ministry of Science and Technology, China, to examine ways to encourage patenting and licensing in public research organizations.

China's economic modernization demands an efficient system of intellectual property rights (IPR) to encourage domestic inventions and facilitate the diffusion of foreign technology, said the OECD in a release. This is all the more important now that China faces the challenge of reforming its IPR regime in line with the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement and seeks to benefit from increased foreign investment and technology transfer following its entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO).

China has made significant progress over the last decade in developing an IPR policy and adapting related legislation. While China continues to make major efforts to improve its IPR system, government officials wish to learn more about ongoing IPR reforms developed in more advanced countries.

Participants at the two events will share OECD expertise and experience on the links between IPR policies and social and economic growth and on the design of IPR regimes to help China modernize via technological upgrading, openness to foreign investment and further integration into the global economy. The events will lay a basis for further co-operation on IPR issues between the OECD and China.