China plans to restructure the State Intellectual Property Office to strengthen protection of intellectual property rights, according to a document available to the media Tuesday.[Special coverage]
The move aims to strengthen the creation, protection and application of intellectual property rights (IPR), and speed up making China a country of innovators, said the document on an institutional reform plan of the State Council, or the cabinet.
The office will incorporate part of functions of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, to solve problems including separated administration and overlapping enforcement.
The new agency will be responsible for facilitating the construction of an IPR protection system, and the registration and administrative adjudication of trademarks, patents and geographical indications.
The reshuffle plan will be submitted Tuesday to the ongoing first session of the 13th National People's Congress for deliberations.
