In order to conform to the national strategy of intellectual property, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce promoted the implementation of trademark strategy and has provided a strong protection for the trademarks. Since 2009, a total of 51044 illegal cases were investigated and settled by local administrations for industry and commerce across China. In 2009, the SAIC took the following measures: formulating and issuing the Opinions of Further promoting the implementation of trademark strategy and 5 other related documents, holding public activities for the awareness of the trademark strategy and proving trainings and guidance to support the regional economic development, publishing 3226 major trademarks and publishing the 2009 China Trademark Strategy Annual Report, establishing a branch trademark office in Zhongguanchun high tech area.
According to the official of the trademark office, the SAIC made significant progress and protected the legal rights and interests of the trademark owners and consumers. These include the submission of the 3rd revision of the trademark law to the State Council and the achievement in trademark examination. In 2009, 1,414,700 trademark applications were examined, an increase of 88.69% as compared with the same period of the previous year. The pending period is shortened to 17 months. For the 8th consecutive year, the trademark application in China ranked the first in the world. The year of 2009 witnessed 830,500 trademark applications.
With regard to the protection of the trademark, a total of 51044 cases were investigated and settled, of which 43596 cases are related to counterfeit activities. 13,534,022 trademark representations were seized and destroyed. 109 suspects and 92 cases were transferred to the judicial organs.
In order to provide a quick and efficient service to the public, the SAIC strengthened the information infrastructure and made it possible for the computer search, on-line search, on-line publications and submission of applications.
In addition, a lot of efforts have been done to encourage the registration of agricultural products and geographical indications. Up to now, there is an accumulated number of 749,800 trademarks related to agriculture and 771 approved geographical indications.
