Beijing

Fund for key industries launched

A government-led intellectual property fund for key industries was launched last week, with total planned capital of 1 billion yuan ($153.3 million), which would make it the richest of its kind nationwide. The first phase of 400-million-yuan capital has been sold out, focusing on investment in startups and growing companies with high-value patents in mobile Internet and biomedicines. The fund will cooperate with major national IP projects and help IP agencies build multilevel cooperation with investment and financing institutes.

CE.CN

Shandong

Alliance to help commercialize rights

The China (Qingdao) International Patent Operation Alliance was established late last month, as the first cross-field, cross-regional IP operation alliance in the province. Aiming to help companies transform IP rights into products, the alliance plans to cooperate with Japanese companies and patent offices in such fields as new materials, new energy, high-tech, electronic information and core technology for mechanical equipment. The alliance has 60 member organizations.

HUBEI

10,000 copyright registrations in 2015

Annual copyright registrations in the province reached 10,000 for the first time in 2015, nearly five times the number of the previous year. The rapid growth in copyright registrations in recent years reflects stronger public awareness of copyright, and social innovation, said Hu Wei, deputy director at the provincial copyright bureau. The province provided free registration and reduced the transaction time limit from one month to one week last year to better serve the public.

Hubei Daily

SHANGHAI

Cultural heritage park to open in June

An intangible cultural heritage park project was launched on Dec 29. The park is scheduled to open in June in southwestern Shanghai's town of Fengjing and host foreign and domestic representative heritage items. Insiders believe the park is a cultural industrial cluster that will include tourism, performances, conventions and exhibitions, and the Internet of Things. Its sales volume is forecast to reach 1.5 billion yuan ($230 million) within two years.

Xinhua News Agency

LIAONING

University to establish IP research base

Dalian University of Technology has won approval from the State Intellectual Property Office to establish the first IP strategy implementation research base in Northeast China. The base, to be managed by SIPO, will conduct research in IP strategy, international IP development, cross-regional IP cooperation and IP commercialization to offer advice for the Chinese government in building a strong IP powerhouse.

Guangming Daily

JIANGXI

Arbitration center to start work this month

An IP arbitration center was approved on Dec 29 in Nanchang, and will be the fifth of its kind in China and the first in central China. Part of the Nanchang Arbitration Commission, the center will be responsible for handling disputes involving patents, trademarks, copyrights, business secrets and unfair competition. It will also organize promotions and provide consultation services. The center is scheduled to start operation later this month.

Jiangxi.gov.cn