State-Level IPR Tribunal To Be Set Up For Intellectual Protection

The SPC will have a national appeal court for civil and administrative IP case, according to Zhou Qiang, Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) at the bimonthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

"Due to the complexity of IP cases and the expertise needed for trials, a national appeal court will help prevent inconsistency of legal application and improve the quality and efficiency of trials, and also help nurture a favorable legal environment for technological innovation and a better business environment for domestic and international enterprises." Zhou said.

Under the current legal system, intermediate courts at the city and prefecture levels and IP-dedicated courts can sit to hear civil and administrative cases relating to IP disputes that require technical expertise. The cases will go to high courts at the provincial level if the parties concerned lodge appeals.