Russia is working to reach an agreement with China on the intellectual property rights (IPR) protection of Kalashnikov assault rifles, said Anatoly Isaikin, director-general of Russia's government-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport, according to a report from indlawnews.com.

"We have received China's national patent for Kalashnikov products. The documents have been handed to the Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation to prepare and conclude an intergovernmental agreement in the field," Isaikin said.

Isaikin said the process of reaching a deal with China will be lengthy, but that Russia hopes it will be finished soon, citing the huge number of unlicensed Kalashnikov rifles produced all over the world.

"There are about 100 million Kalashnikov assault rifles worldwide, of which half are counterfeit, that are produced without licenses, patents and intergovernmental agreements," he said.

Isaikin said more than 15 countries -- including Bulgaria, Romania, Egypt, and China -- produce the rifles either with expired licenses or without licenses. Only Venezuela manufactures them legally, he said.

"Even America produces the assault rifles, even though the country has never received a license for their manufacture," he said.

Isaikin said at least 30 organizations are illegally producing and trafficking the weapons.

The best-known Kalashnikov rifle is the 1947 model known as the AK-47. It is the most widely produced assault rifle in the world, and is used by regular armies and militant groups.

The creator of the AK-47, Mikhail Kalashnikov, is 89 years old and lives in the Russian city of Izhevsk.

China Business Weekly news

(China Daily 11/02/2009 page9)