The Importance Of IP Management

On 24-26 October, 2016, All-China Patent Attorneys Association (ACPAA) and Shanghai Intellectual Property Service Center and Zhongzhi （Beijing）Certification Co. Ltd jointly hosted a Training Conference for Enterprise Intellectual Property Management Internal Auditor in Shanghai. Over 100 participants attended the seminar including ACPAA membership companies, non-member companies, IP service organizations, and Ms. Alice Dong, Trainee Attorney at A&Z’s IP Department.

Mr. Wenrui Su, -Deputy Director of Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration (SIPA)- delivered the opening speech.  Mr. Su stated the importance of implementing the Rules of Enterprise Intellectual Property Management (企业知识产权管理规范) in Shanghai. More specifically, he mentioned that enterprises in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces have been much more proactive in implementing these rules. For instance, Su stressed that enterprises in these areas, in comparison with Shanghai corporatations, have a larger number of internal auditors working on managing IP issues.

Effective as of March 1st, 2013, Rules of Enterprise Intellectual Property Management (GB/T 29490-2013) is a national rule promulgated by the State Intellectual Property Office of the People’s Republic of China (SIPO), and ratified by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) and the Standardization Administration of the People’s Republic of China (SAC). This regulation standardizes enterprises’ management systems of intellectual property rights. It aims at providing practical guidance on adopting a scientific and systemic management system of intellectual property rights to enterprises. It is expected that through this regulation, enterprises can abide by requirements set forth in the Outline of the National Intellectual Property Strategy (国家知识产权战略纲要).By doing so, corporations will also enhance creation, management and protection of their own intellectual property rights, thereby increasing international competitiveness.

Through participating in this seminar, A&Z’s attorneys gained a deeper understanding of the current enterprises’ intellectual property protection situation, especially in terms of its challenges and how they can be overcome. Therefore, it is quintessential that clients be advised to strictly abide by standards set forth in GB/T29490, and acquire the Intellectual Property Management System Certification, so that their enterprises are able to increase their intellectual property protection.