BEIJING - US Patent and Trademark Office director Kathi Vidal said on April 16 that intellectual property rights (IPR) continue to be a main concern for US businesses in China, and they face significant challenges with infringement.
“Whether it’s insufficient deterrence for infringement, challenges to pharmaceutical related patents, or the misappropriation of trade secrets, intellectual property rights protection and enforcement remain a key issue of concern in the US-China bilateral relationship,” Ms Vidal said at an event with attendees from the US business community and legal fields in Beijing.
Ms Vidal said the issue harms US companies and workers, and that it is a concern not just held by firms in the US, but by other nations as well.
She called recent policy shifts, including reduced transparency across the board, “troubling”.
“What we've heard is that we need to create a fair, non-discriminatory and transparent IP environment for all.”
In a recent blog post addressing the issue, Ms Vidal said American businesses operating in China regularly cite insufficient protection and enforcement of IP as a top concern, and the Office of the US Trade Representative has placed China on its “priority watch” list for over a decade, detailing a long list of IP concerns reported by US businesses operating in China.
“We continue to work with our (Chinese) counterparts on higher penalties for infringement. We've seen that most recently and some of the laws that have been passed, but we heard today that although there is the availability of higher penalties, you're not seeing that play out in action yet,” Ms Vidal said.
On April 15, she met Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang, during which she said the US attaches importance to the development of intellectual property cooperation with China, and is willing to strengthen dialogue, according to Chinese state media.
Mr Ding said China wants to expand practical cooperation with the US on intellectual property rights, address each other's concerns and foster a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment. REUTERS
