College students are being asked online to create new products from or uses for materials from destroyed fake goods, in a project launched by the China University of Political Science and Law on Wednesday.

The activity, jointly held by Alibaba and China Youth Daily, aims to collect ideas and encourage innovations on how to reuse counterfeit materials, or turn fake goods into useful things, according to a statement from the e-commerce giant.

"The destruction of fake products we found on online shops sometimes didn't help people, especially the youth, enhance awareness to prevent counterfeits, let alone to protect intellectual property rights. So we decided to provide an activity or competition, encouraging university students to brainstorm and find new ways to remove counterfeits," said Sun Jungong, vice-president of Alibaba.

The activity, which will run one month, will include 799 colleges or universities in 21 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, welcoming their ideas for destroyed products or recycling materials, the statement said.

Innovative products that are made will be auctioned and the money will be used for charity, it said.

Contact the writer at caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn