Online Interview
Topic: Strengthening Customs IPR Enforcement to Protect Enterprise Innovation
Time:10:00 AM (Fri) April 25, 2014
Special Guests:Qiao Jinming, Party Leadership Group Member and Deputy Director General of Jiangmen Customs District; Liu Yang, Deputy Director of the Division of Regulations, Guangdong Sub-Administration of the General Administration of Customs
Online Interview Photos
Strengthening Customs IPR Enforcement to Protect Enterprise Innovation
[Qiao Jinming]: So we conducted a screening inspection. Through risk analysis which was done based on the data about exported batteries in recent years, we identified a trading company in Jiangmen and made a tentative conclusion that it might be exporting infringing batteries. In October 2013, we cleared up the case through real-time monitoring of the customs declaration data recorded at the control venues,. At present, this case has been settled, and the confiscated batteries have been transferred to charities. 04/25/2014 10:09:09
[Wang Hua]: The firm committing infringement is very foxy. Instead of producing fake products directly, it registered a similar trademark in the Customs, and make local variation to the trademark in actual use. 04/25/2014 10:09:58
[Qiao Jinming]: That is true! Usually infringement cases detected may involve counterfeit trademark infringement, similar trademark infringement, design patent infringement and the like. The said case is a typical similar trademark infringement. The firm committing infringement covered up its infringing activities through various means and wrapped the infringing goods in a new aura of legitimacy, trying to avoid customs supervision, for example, registering a similar trademark in Customs, having a variation of a trademark registered in foreign countries, and entrusting an innocent third-party agent to declare the goods for them. 04/25/2014 10:10:26
[Qiao Jinming]: Cunning though they are, the enterprises engaged in infringing activities would show the cloven foot in the face of Customs IPR enforcement. In these days, we have intercepted another case involving the infringement upon the exclusive trademark right of SUNWATT’s by similar tricks, 180,000 infringing dry batteries were detained in the case. 04/25/2014 10:11:05
[Wang Hua]: Customs Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement supports the development of the law-abiding enterprises by cracking down on the infringing activities of the enterprises which are apt to commit infringement. Especially, for famous domestic companies like Sunwatt Battery, the reputation of the company and its brand value might very likely be jeopardized and adversely affected if the infringing goods were sold in foreign markets. 04/25/2014 10:11:34
[Qiao Jinming]: I agree! Last year, after the case was solved, , Guangxi Wuzhou Sunwatt Battery Co., Ltd. sent a thank you letter to Jiangmen Customs District and a flag on which there is line, saying “Guardian of State Gateway, Role Model of Efficiency”. 04/25/2014 10:12:23
[Qiao Jinming]: In fact, Customs IPR enforcement rectifies market order, protects corporate legitimate rights and interests, supports the development of the law-abiding enterprises, defends the reputation of “made-in-China” products and helps enterprise catch more export opportunities. 04/25/2014 10:13:12
[Wang Hua]: Customs IPR Enforcement is also a kind of protection for enterprises’ “go global” strategy. Mr. Qiao, would you please introduce to us the efforts that Jiangmen Customs District has made to protect IPR in recent years? 04/25/2014 10:13:41
[Qiao Jinming]: Here are the related data. In 2013, Jiangmen Customs District took Customs IPR enforcement measures against 34 consignments of goods(3.47 million pieces), with a total value of RMB 8.26 million ; filed for investigation 7 infringement cases in which 2.75 million pieces of infringing goods with a total value of RMB 1.29 million were seized ; transferred 3,384 pieces of infringing goods to the Red Cross Society of China Guangdong Branch for public causes; and received 6 thank you letters from right holders and import and export enterprises. 04/25/2014 10:14:22
[Qiao Jinming]: In the first quarter of this year, Jiangmen Customs District took customs IPR enforcement measures against 16 consignments of goods, a year-on-year increase of 300%. The goods seized were with a total value of RMB 2.37million and numbered 390,000 pieces, increasing by 49% and 2900% respectively. We filed for investigation 7 infringement cases in the first quarter, the same number as that of last year as a whole. These 7 cases involved a total value of RMB 2 million, increasing by 2600%. 200,000 pieces of infringing goods were seized in these cases, which also represented a considerable increase over that of last year’s. 04/25/2014 10:15:01