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Legislation for IPR protection in traditional knowledge is urgent in China

Post Time:2009-11-10 Source:IPR in China Author: Views:
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China lags behind with respect to the legislation in intellectual property rights (IPR) protection for traditional knowledge and heritage resources and should make a consideration, said principals of State Council Legislative Affairs Office expressed at 2009 China International Trademark Festival on November 9.

Deputy director-general of Research Department of Education, Science and Technology, Culture and Health in State Council Legislative Affairs Office Liu Xiaoxia said, China has a long history and the geographic environment is complicated and diversified, thus traditional knowledge and heritage recourses are our country’s predominance. An effective protection system is significant to reinforce the competitiveness of China in intellectual property.

At present, the issue of IPR in Chinese traditional knowledge is under discussion and there is no supporting legislation. The current protection is limited to provisions in the new amended Patent Law, which stipulates that any heritage resources obtained illegally and used should not be granted patents.

Attitudes to the traditional knowledge and heritage resources are quite different for developed countries and developing ones. We should not wait for the final decision of the international coordination but make legislation first, said Ms. Liu. At the same time, not only is it good for the protection of the traditional knowledge and heritage resources, but it could also help get advantageous opportunity and more voices in the coordination. [Chinese version is available on Xinhua]
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