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- Recognizing its reputation as a major distribution point for wholesale goods, officials in Yiwu outlined efforts undertaken to improve IPR enforcement in its market.
- Yiwu officials have set up a coordination body to improve enforcement. They are pursuing closer coordination between industry and the Yiwu government, training for officials on IPR issues, a policy of revoking business licenses for repeat IPR offenders, and employment of undercover Consumer Protection Office investigators to root out underground sales of pirated and counterfeit goods.
- Industry reports that local enforcement authorities are increasingly responsive to rights holders' complaints.
Administrative Enforcement:
- The Zhejiang AIC handled 4702 trademark cases in 2005, leading the country in number of cases reported and number of cases involving foreign rights holders.
- In comparison to trademark issues, there were only 16 copyright cases prosecuted by the Copyright Bureau in 2005, placing Zhejiang well below Shanghai and Jiangsu rates. To improve coordination and oversight of cultural product markets, Zhejiang State Administration of Radio Film and Television, Culture and Copyright Bureau offices are now co-located.
- Ningbo courts reported that they have stepped up public awareness on IPR issues, and that since 2005, civil decisions have been available online, a transparency and public awareness trend that is taking hold in many localities around China.
Criminal Enforcement:
- Zhejiang led the country in terms of trademark cases transferred for criminal prosecution in 2005 (with 109 cases), although remedies continue to be largely non-deterrent, as in other parts of China. There were no reported transfers of copyright cases.
- Zhejiang authorities have confirmed that facilitating more criminal transfers of copyright, patent and trademark cases remains a top priority.
- Local court officials in Yiwu and Ningbo described efforts to increase IPR training for judges and expedite the handling of IPR cases, and industry sources have reported that, in recent years, it has become easier to file criminal IPR complaints in Yiwu.
- In February 2005, Zhejiang authorities established local standards for referral of administrative IPR cases to the PSB for criminal prosecution, including a "three strike" provision to automatically have police investigate repeat offenders.
- Valuation of seized goods remains a key problem. For example, the value of a seizure of counterfeit auto parts in a recent Zhejiang case was assessed based on the packaging of the seized goods rather than the goods themselves, impeding criminal prosecution of the case.
- Industry reports continued resistance by local administrative officials to transfer cases for criminal investigation and prosecution, a problem in many localities around China.
Exports: The Ningbo port is one of China's top five ports of lading for infringing goods seized at U.S. borders. According to the Zhejiang White Paper, Zhejiang Customs handled 30 IPR-related cases in 2005, valued at RMB 1.25 million.
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