INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
OFFICE News Release (02/02/09) issued by COI News Distribution
Service. 2 February 2009
The UK and China
have signed two ground-breaking Intellectual Property agreements
as part of today's summit meeting between the two countries.
The agreements which cover patents and trade marks aim to
encourage and make it easier for UK and Chinese business to
develop products and services from new ideas and innovation.
Chinese companies now file four times more patents than five
years ago. By 2012 China is forecast to become the largest
patenting nation in the world. However the global patent system
faces a growing crisis with huge backlogs of unprocessed
applications and delays. In some countries it can take over 10
years to get a patent. Much of this backlog is due to duplicate
processing of similar patent applications in different states.
The patents agreement, signed in the presence of Prime Ministers
Wen and Brown, will:
* Tackle the problem of backlogs by reducing duplication and
delays in the processing of patent applications by enabling UK and
Chinese examiners to make better use of each others' work; and
* Promote and encourage the use and understanding of our
respective Intellectual Property systems by Chinese and UK businesses.
The trade marks agreement is the first of its kind between China
and the UK. It promotes cooperation between the Intellectual
Property Office and the China Trade Mark Office, including the
exchange of best practice and training.
Minister of State for Intellectual Property David Lammy said:
"In the current challenging global economic climate, it is
those countries that invest in innovation that will be at the
forefront of the economic recovery. The agreements announced today
will help to make it quicker and easier for businesses in our two
countries to better protect and exploit their ideas. They will
improve the global IP system to make it effective, efficient and
accessible to all innovative companies."
Commissioner Tian Lipu said:
"The agreement on patents is a step towards making the
system more efficient for both UK and Chinese business by reducing
duplication and delays."
Ian Fletcher, Chief Executive of the Intellectual Property
Office, said:
"These agreements are very important to both UK and Chinese
business. By reducing duplication and delays in patents we will
assist in translating each other's innovation and creativity
into economic growth and social benefit. The agreements will also
promote greater awareness to business of how Intellectual Property works."
China is a key market for the UK - we are China's largest EU
investor. In 2008 China/UK trade was worth over £25 billion. To be
successful, it is vital UK companies understand the importance of
protecting and exploiting their ideas in such a key market.
These new agreements will be followed up with a series of staff
exchanges and joint UK/China outreach events to business over the
coming year.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
* The Intellectual Property Office is within the Department for
Innovation, Universities and Skills and responsible for the
national framework of Intellectual Property rights, comprising
patents, designs, trade marks and copyright.
Its role is to help manage an IP system that encourages
innovation and creativity, balances the needs of consumers and
users, promotes strong and competitive markets and is the
foundation of the knowledge based economy.
It operates in a national and an international environment and
its work is governed by national and international law, including
various international treaties relating to IP to which the United
Kingdom is a party.
* Intellectual Property plays a central role in translating
innovation and creativity into economic growth and social benefit.
* Innovative companies which continue to invest in the
development of new products and services will have a head start
over their competitors when the economy recovers.
* In the current climate, it is more important than ever to
ensure Chinese and UK businesses are aware of how to protect and
exploit their ideas.