According to SIPO, the nationwide toll-free number 12330 will be in use to provide assistance to the public for purpose of IP enforcement. The application for the number was submitted to Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) later in 2008 by SIPO and was approved at the beginning of 2009. The number is to be in use during the week of intellectual property in April.
At present, there are a total of 46 centers across the country approved for providing assistance for IP enforcement. It is said that by the end of 2009, there will be about 70 centers and the number will be around 100 in 3 years.
The services provided by the assistance centers include: consultation and advice on IP laws and regulations, filing procedures, dispute settlement and litigation; referential opinions on infringement and damages; partial funding to parties in some influential foreign-related IP cases; coordination with certain institutes in studying significant foreign-related cases; pre-warning services for key R & D projects, investment and technology transfer; etc.
The recipients of the assistance are those Chinese citizens and legal entities in economic difficulties that are not able to pay for costs and those Chinese citizens, individuals or entities that are faced with difficult IP issues.
