April 2007
The impressive growth of the Chinese economy, and its breakneck pace of change, have recently been reflected in new figures released from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (‘WIPO’), in Geneva.
In 2006, over a quarter of all international (‘PCT’) patent applications came from north east Asian countries, with applications from China increasing by a staggering 56.8%, giving China 8th position in the filing league, worldwide.
On the trade marks front, too, China enjoyed significant growth, being the country most designated in international (‘Madrid’) applications.
These figures, together with statistics showing impressive expansion from many other north east Asian territories, clearly show that the increasing economic importance of China and its neighbours is being used to strengthen their intellectual property portfolios, and reflect a growing and welcome shift in their attitudes towards IP rights in general.
At Forresters, we have been active in China and the Far East for several years, with our partners and professional staff making regular visits there, strengthening existing relationships, and forging new ones.
If you have any queries regarding IP in China, and how we can help, please feel free to contact us.