BEIJING, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese intellectual property rights (IPR) authorities Wednesday vowed "all-round" efforts to help domestic companies raise awareness of IPR protection in the wake of increasing exchanges with foreign businesses and disputes arising from them.

Yin Xintian, spokesman of the State Intellectual Property Office, made the pledge when answering a question related to a lawsuit between British electric kettle manufacturer Strix and two Chinese companies, at a press conference on the amendment to the implementation rules of the Patent Law.

"The awareness includes both respecting others' IPR and protecting our own," he said.

On Monday, Strix announced it had won a lawsuit in which it accused the two companies of copying its patented technology that could automatically switch off electric kettles after the water reaches boiling point.

The Beijing Intermediate People's Court ruled that Zhejiang Jiatai Electrical Appliance Manufacturing pay 7.1 million yuan (1.04 million U.S. dollars) in damages and Leqing Fada Electrical Appliance 2 million yuan.

Strix chief executive Paul Hussey said the ruling reflected the importance China's judicial system attached to IPR protection.

He was quoted in the Financial Times as saying the company had "increasing faith in China's legal system."
                                                                                                            Source:Xinhua