Special IPR Working Group Meeting
Re: Patents Filing & Protection in China
Friday, 1 April from 14:00 to 16:00
EU Delegation, 15 Dongzhimenwai (6532 4443)
We are pleased to invite you to a special IPR meeting to discuss patent filing and protection in China in more detail. Further to last month's lunch with European Patent Office President, Dr Alain Pompidou, the European Chamber has produced a draft proposal (provisionally entitled How European Business Can Prepare, File and Enforce Patent Rights in China) which would require additional input from European patent holders who are encountering difficulties with patent filing procedures and enforcement. We'll spell out common concerns which could then be integrated into the proposal for EPO, and from there brainstorm practical ways to move forward with a coherent lobbying strategy. This special meeting is aimed at European companies who are frequent customers of SIPO and facing particular procedural challenges, not to mention possible political resistance.
Among other questions, we'll look to answer:
* What are the procedural aspects of filing patents in China? What happens in practice?
* If patents are registered in China, are Chinese authorities doing their utmost to protect them? If not, then why?
* What is the role of SIPO? How can the European Chamber effectively increase awareness of members' potential grievances with SIPO?
* How can European industry better protect its own standards, especially as Chinese companies are increasingly "going global"?
* Are there cases where "Open Standards" are being abused? How to avoid them becoming "Closed Standards" in China?
Based on the conclusions drawn from this meeting, we are also likely to include a special section on patents in the next edition of European Chamber's Position Paper 2005. One recommendation we'll likely raise, for example, is urging Chinese authorities to publicly encourage Chinese industry to enter patent licensing negotiations.
Thank you for confirming your attendance at your earliest convenience on nruble@euccc.com.cn. Feel free to email specific issues you would like to address ahead of time; we would also welcome background material that you feel relevant to share during the meeting as a way to focus and make the most out of discussion.