Beijing

Book piracy bust

The city's cultural administration announced details of an investigation, which is said to be "the largest piracy case in recent years". The enforcement campaign launched in September and discovered more than 1.2 billion pirated books with a potential value of 50 million yuan ($8.17 million). Officials arrested 32 suspects in Beijing and Jiangxi province, who said they started the business in 2010 and sold illegal publications to more than 20 provinces and regions nationwide.

Beijing Times

Shanxi

Alliance to improve IP service

The first IP service alliance in the province was founded in the provincial capital city Taiyuan. Composed of 17 local agencies and law firms, the alliance aims to share resources among its members, explore innovative service models and improve IP service quality in the province. It will provide IP information, training, evaluation and trade and rights protection to companies via partnerships.

Shanxi Economic Daily

Hainan

Haikou to host trademark festival

Haikou was selected as the host city for next year's China Trademark Festival. The annual event organized by the China Trademark Association is the country's most influential in the field. This year's event is scheduled to start in Suzhou on Nov 8, when the Haikou governmental delegation will present a flag in a handing over ceremony.

Haikou Evening News

Shaanxi

Hot pot brand violation

Xi'an industry and commerce administration shut down three hot pot restaurants in the provincial capital for violating the Beijing Huangjihuang Inc brand, a famous hot pot chain restaurant. Enforcement officials said the three fake Huangjihuang restaurants had similar store decoration, menu and brochures to the genuine trademark owner, which would easily mislead consumers. The Beijing company filed a lawsuit with the city's Intermediate People's Court to safeguard its rights.

Xi'an Evening News

Shanghai

New plant varieties

Shanghai Botanical Garden is growing new varieties of plants they cultivated for their ongoing flower show. If the new varieties are welcomed by the public they could be used wider in the city. Plant innovation is a work priority for the garden. During the past 20 years the garden has welcomed 17 new plant varieties approved by the State Forestry Administration, including seven new camellia varieties.

Shanghai.gov.cn

Jiangsu

Patent competence survey

Suzhou topped cities in Jiangsu in the province's first survey on patent competence, which was unveiled on Oct 31. Nanjing and Wuxi were ranked second and third by the report, which analyzed patent creation, use, protection and environment in all cities in the province. In Nanjing there were more than 50,000 patent applications last year, the most in Jiangsu, but the report found the city lagged behind in its patent use abilities. The survey is due to be carried out every year.

People.com.cn

Henan

Training program rolled out

The provincial IP office launched a long-term training program and held its first lecture in Zhengzhou national creative industry park. Under the program, four to six activities will be organized every year, including seminars, lectures, visits and consultations. Organizers plan to invite experts to share the latest IP-related information and achievements with companies, agencies, universities and individuals. More than 120 people attended the first lecture.

chinanews.com