A joint investigation on counterfeit patented products in commodity circulation field kicked off in Anshan, a city in Liaoning province. 

Over 50 enforcement officials from IP-related departments in the province teamed up to examine commodities including home appliances, daily necessities, food and beverage in GOME and a local supermarket.

During the investigation, officials randomly selected about 400 articles to check, of which 45 were patented products. 

After a close scrutiny, it was found that 40 items enjoyed adequate legal protection of patent rights; patent symbols of 5 items were inappropriately labeled, which would be further inspected by Anshan Municipal Intellectual Property Office. 

The officials explained the existing problems to the two businesses and educated them on knowledge of patent labeling standards and patent searching skills. 

"Intellectual property protection is the key to stimulate innovations," said Wang Jie, deputy director of Liaoning Provincial Intellectual Property Office. "Although, currently, Liaoning enjoys a sound protection environment, relevant departments should constantly enhance the enforcement to promote the IP protection in commodity circulation field and work out solutions to prominent problems emerging in combating counterfeits and infringement."[Chinese version is available on sipo.gov.cn]

(Source: IPR in China)