The Hangzhou Asian Games and Hangzhou Asian Para Games volunteers commencement ceremony at Zijingang Campus, Zhejiang University on August 24, 2023. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

By ZHONG Jianli

In a significant move to safeguard intellectual property rights (IPR) during the highly anticipated Hangzhou Asian Games and Asian Para Games in September and October, China has unveiled an extensive initiative aimed at reinforcing IPR protection throughout the Games.

Recently issued by China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and other governmental bodies, the initiative outlined four areas of focus on IPR protection.

Firstly, it requires expedition of approval and legal protection of special symbols, design patents and related IPRs in accordance with laws and regulations. To achieve this, CNIPA will establish a dedicated registration window for licensing Hangzhou Asian Games symbols in Zhejiang province, ensuring swift protection for licensees.

Secondly, an intensified campaign will be launched from August to October, with market supervision and IPR management departments at all levels conducting thorough inspections of key venues, areas and goods. The crackdown on IPR infringement during import and export processes related to the Asian Games will be strictly enforced by customs.

Thirdly, efforts will be made to establish a robust framework for comprehensive protection through enhanced network monitoring, market inspections and law enforcement cooperation. This will involve establishing efficient channels for social complaints and reports, implementing a rapid response mechanism for exchanging case information, and seeking guidance from relevant higher-level departments to address complex issues.

Lastly, extensive publicity campaigns will be conducted to raise public awareness about the importance of IPR protection. The campaigns will involve promoting IPR protection for the Games to the general public and sponsors, and employing various communication approaches to widely popularize the significance of IPR protection during the Games.

The initiative also proposed to conduct a timely summary and evaluation of the action on IPR protection upon the conclusion of the Games, and collect relevant experiences and cases to help establish long-term mechanisms for protecting IPRs during major sporting events.