The US Chamber of Commerce and its Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC) initiated a summit with China’s Guangdong government in order to discuss the IP challenges (concerning both the countries) in the province.
"We recognize the Guangdong provincial leadership’s efforts to promote a more innovative economy in the aftermath of the financial crisis," said Myron Brilliant, Senior Vice President for International Affairs at the US Chamber. "However, Guangdong’s ability to develop into a global hub for innovation will depend on the will of the provincial government to work more closely with IP rights holders, including American companies. We hope to initiate efforts with the government to promote solutions that tackle the significant IP protection and enforcement challenges in the province."
Brilliant, who represented the Chamber at the Pearl River Delta International Forum on Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights was accompanied with joining US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, US Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, and top industry and business association executives. While forum participants accepted the progress that Guangdong has achieved in legislation, education, and procedures on IP, foreign investors identified a number of IP challenges which can be taken care of in order to improve Guangdong’s attractiveness as an innovation center. "Guangdong is still considered a major source of production for infringing products sold not only in China, but globally," said Dr. Mark Esper, Executive Vice President of the GIPC.
"We look forward to building on the progress made at this Summit with the Guangdong government," Esper said. "Together, our efforts to enhance protection and enforcement of IP will lead to future innovation that will help solve the challenges facing our world."
Source: Institute of International Trade