Crackdown On IPR Infringement Bears Rruit

Chinese courts at different levels have intensified the crackdown on counterfeiting over the past year, with harsher punishments for intellectual property infringements, in order to further stimulate and protect innovation by the rule of law.

In 2023, courts nationwide handled more than 540,000 IP cases. Among the cases, punitive damages applied in 319, an increase of 117 percent compared with 2022, according to data released on Monday by the SPC, China's top court.

The figures mean that "we've provided stronger protection for IP rights owners by strengthening the battle against IP infringement", Tao Kaiyuan, vice-president of the top court, said on Monday at a news conference in Beijing.