China Establishes Specialised Intellectual Property Courts

China is often criticised for its lack of protection for intellectual property rights. At the same time, Chinese companies account for a significant portion of intellectual property applications worldwide. To strengthen the legal protection of intellectual property rights at home, the Chinese government recently passed legislation establishing specialised courts. Although it will remain a significant challenge for foreign companies to enforce their intellectual property rights in China, specialised courts are an important step in the right direction.

The exponential growth of intellectual property (IP) registrations by Chinese companies in recent years, as promoted by the Chinese government, has led to a corresponding increase in IP-related disputes. To improve dispute resolution, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China passed legislation on 31 August 2014 establishing specialised IP courts in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. It is not yet