Experts: Firms need IPR management aid
By Chen Qide (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-12-15 23:09

A senior Chinese intellectual property official said yesterday China has pledged to help small- and medium-sized enterprises reinforce their management of intellectual property rights (IPRs) as a way to sharpen their competitive edge in the world market.

"Intellectual property use and management should be written into business plans and development strategies," Li Yuguang, deputy director of the State Intellectual Property Office, said at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Asian regional workshop on intellectual property for managers, staff and support institutions of affected businesses.

The three-day event, organized by WIPO, is discussing themes to promote the use of intellectual property protection and challenges of raising awareness and enforcement. More than 100 delegates from 22 countries in the Asia-Pacific Region are attending.

Li told participants that the country has considered management as a major focus of its current effort to promote protection work nationwide.

China has more than 8 million small- and medium-sized businesses of various kinds, accounting for 99 per cent of its total enterprises. They are generating 60 per cent of the country's industrial output value and have provided 75 per cent of its industrial job opportunities.

"They have become a major stimulus to China's economic growth, so they should make better use of the protective systems for faster development," Li said.

Shozo Uemura, special advisor to the Director General of WIPO, praised the effort made by the Chinese Government, which has co-operated two other countries to launch the workshop.

He said his observation has proved that China has already done a great job in the intellectual property.

"China could be a model for other countries, particularly for developing countries," said Uemura who was in charge of Progressive Development of International Intellectual Property Law when he served from August 1998 to November 2003 as Deputy Director General of WIPO.

His words were echoed by Guriqbal Singh Jaiya, a director of WIPO, who said many small- and medium-sized Chinese enterprises do not have enough knowledge at present and should be taught quickly.

"Whether an enterprise efficiently obtains and uses its assets has been a key factor for it to become a success," said Li.

Uemura suggested that China's central and local governments should introduce a culture and knowledge for businesses and consumers.

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