The development of intellectual property in China over the past 30 years is as impressive as the country's economic growth, according to a top global IP expert.
Renata Righetti Pelosi, president of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property, made the remarks in a recent interview with China Intellectual Property News.
China has become a major player on the IP front in a matter of decades, thanks to its continued efforts to foster, protect and utilize IP.
Patent applications filed with China's IP administration grew 11.6 percent year-on-year to reach 1.54 million in 2018, accounting for almost half of the global total, according to the annual World Intellectual Property Indicators report released by the World Intellectual Property Organization.
The quality of Chinese filings has also improved, especially in the fields of artificial intelligence, mobile communication, high-speed rail and biopharmaceuticals. These high-value patents serve as a strong driver of economic growth and social well-being, according to the National Intellectual Property Administration.
Pelosi said the growth in patent filing is "mostly driven by Chinese applicants headed by tech giants such as Huawai, Oppo, ZTE and BOE Technology", who ranked among "the first 100 patent filers at the European Patent Office in 2018".
"This is a sign that Chinese companies are taking the lead in innovation in particular in the tech sector, not only domestically but worldwide," she added.
Underpinning these achievements is the government's continued commitment to promoting IP creation, protection and utilization.
"The rapid development of intellectual property in China reflects the commitment of the Chinese government to transform the economy from a manufacturing-based system to an economy based on innovation in science and technology," Pelosi said.
Source: China Daily
