According to a special press conference on the Integrated National Demonstration Zone for Opening up the Services Sector and China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone (the "Two Zones"), Beijing Municipal Intellectual Property Office has been focused on the key areas and major needs of the development of the "Two Zones" to promote the comprehensive reform of intellectual property rights. A total of six breakthroughs have been made in the areas of creation, protection, application, management and service of intellectual property rights. 

First, Beijing Municipal Intellectual Property Office has carried out a pilot project on intellectual property rights insurance. Over the past two years, the pilot project has supported 20 single-champion enterprises from the manufacturing industry and 312 micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises in key areas to insure 3,366 patents in Beijing, with an insured amount of more than CNY 3.3 billion. Procedures for the first patent insurance claim filed by an insured enterprise hasve been completed, with a claim amount of CNY 160,562.

Second, Beijing Municipal Intellectual Property Office has made breakthroughs in opening up the patent agency sector. China National Intellectual Property Administration has approved the pilot project for opening up the patent agency sector. With the launch of the pilot project, foreigners can participate in China's National Patent Agent Exam, while foreign patent agencies are allowed to set up resident representative offices in China. Up to now, one intellectual property rights lawyer from the United States has registered for the exam and a Japanese patent agency has set up an office in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area.

Third, Beijing Municipal Intellectual Property Office has supported the building of the intellectual property rights trading center in Beijing and carried out a pilot project for securitization of intellectual property rights. The "China Technology Exchange-Zhongguancun Guarantee-Changjiang-Phase-1-10 Intellectual Property Rights Asset Special Supporting Plan" was the first asset securitization project for patent licensing and intellectual property rights. At present, profits of the first phase of the special project has been confirmed, involving 58 patents from 15 high-tech enterprises in Haidian District, with a total financing amount of CNY 300 million. 

Fourth, Beijing Municipal Intellectual Property Office has supported the building of the municipal intellectual property rights pledge financing center which is to provide a complete chain of intellectual property rights pledge financing services. Up to now, the patent and trademark pledge registration service desk has processed 11 registrations, involving 28 patents and a pledge amount of up to CNY 102.95 million. All of the 11 registrations were handled within one business day to enable the patent holders' timely application for bank loans.

Fifth, Beijing Municipal Intellectual Property Office has explored the development of an intellectual property rights protection system for patents of international digital products, copyrights, and trade secrets. Two relevant documents, namely the Intellectual Property Rights Protection Guide for International Digital Products in “Two Zones” (Trial) and the Working Guidelines for Intellectual Property Rights in Digital Trade, have been formulated and released.

Sixth, Beijing Municipal Intellectual Property Office has been actively promoting intellectual property rights services for the public. The Office explores to set up sub-centers for intellectual property rights protection. Since the operation of the sub-centers for Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area and Daxing District in the high-end industrial area of China (Beijing) Free Trade Zone, more than 1,000 patent pre-inquiry consultations have been provided. Moreover, more than 150 quick consultations on rights protection and over 20 intellectual property rights-related business training sessions have been carried out, in addition to the one-to-one intellectual property rights services for nearly 40 enterprises. 

(Source: Gmw.cn)