Patent Law

Peter Ollier of Managing Intellectual Property wrote on January 14, 2008:

A key committee in China's parliament has approved changes to a draft law that deals with innovation in the country, a move that commentators say signals final preparations before the publication of the long-awaited National IP Strategy.

The National IP Strategy is designed to raise IP awareness throughout the country, encourage so-called joined-up government by connecting existing IP policies in different departments and take "a macroeconomic look at IPR protection," according to Thomas Pattloch, IP officer at the EU delegation in Beijing.

But publication may have to wait until after the first plenary session of the 11th National People's Congress on March 5 this year, during which members will elect new state and government leaders.  These may need to approve the Strategy before it is published, although one US official who follows IP issues in China told MIP Week that the Strategy is expected to be published "in the first half of 2008."

Read the full article here.