It is learnt from SIPO that, since the implementation of national IP strategy more than one year ago, China's IPR protection has continuously been improved and significant progress has been made.
The statistics show that the Ministry of Public Security investigated 5,231 cases related to production and publication of illegal publications, 11,000 criminal suspects were caught. In addition, Ministry of Public Security worked with General Administration of Customs and issued Implementing Measures for Customs Protection of IP. In the first half of 2009, customs offices across China investigated 106 cases suspected of infringing the IP rights of Chinese domestic enterprises. Ministry of Public Security also worked with National Administration for Copyright and carried out special inspections on printing and reproduction enterprises.
In terms of the cultural market, 21.77 million pieces of illegal AV products and 5.49 million pieces of illegal books and magazines were seized by the Ministry of Culture. In order to combat the receiving of pirated works and spreading of illegal and infringing acts, the association of IP protection for Audio and Visual works was established.
Meanwhile, the State Intellectual Property Office carried out the special campaigns named "Thunderstorm" and "Sky Net" against patent infringements and fraudulent acts. Supreme People's Procuratorate also made a lot efforts to combat IPR infringements. In the first half of 2009, 946 suspects involved in IPR crimes were arrested.
