Lawmakers support setting up independent IPR courts

Chinese legislators on Wednesday voiced overwhelming support to a separate court system dedicated to cases involving intellectual property rights (IPR).

The idea was introduced in a Tuesday report delivered by Chief Justice Wang Shengjun to the ongoing bimonthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC).

Currently, different divisions within Chinese courts handle civil, administrative and criminal IPR proceedings respectively, which often result in a waste of resources or conflicts between different procedures.

To address the growing number and complexity of IPR cases, Wang suggested setting up independent IPR courts outside the existing system.

Chen Sixi, a member of the NPC Standing Committee, noted that the precedents on setting special maritime courts and military courts are successful and the experience may work for IPR issues.

Establishing IPR courts may help promote judicial services as well as improve the credibility of the court system, Chen said during Wednesday's panel discussion.