Prosecutors covering Zhongguancun, the so-called Silicon Valley of China, are to switch tactics against intellectual property rights infringements from punishment to prevention.

To boost efforts in battling IPR violations, officials aim to build a system of precautions using greater levels of innovation and cooperation.

"We're changing our model from one that tackles offenders to one that employs more long-term judicial services (to prevent crimes)," Wang Zhenfeng, chief prosecutor of Haidian district procuratorate, said at a discussion on the challenges and strategies of IPR protection.

The department, which will set up a special IPR investigation taskforce this year, has also launched a pilot project that will see them share more information with businesses, universities and other government departments.

Prosecutors at Haidian procuratorate have heard 294 cases of IPR infringement in the past three years, mainly relating to counterfeit goods carrying registered trademarks. "Infringements of trademarks account for 97.6 percent of all IPR cases," said Zhong Lijun, a prosecutor with the procuratorate's IPR team.

Although famous international brands like Luis Vuitton, Gucci and Dior are still the main targets, a recent survey by Haidian procuratorate found a rise in IPR infringements against companies making automobile parts over the past three years.

A high number of crooks are also selling illegal goods to international markets.

"IPR infringements more often than not involve a network of offenders," said Zhong. "Crackdowns on IPR infringements usually center on sales chains and insufficient efforts are devoted to the areas of manufacturing and assembly."

China Daily

(China Daily 03/01/2011)