CNR:

With the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics approaching, what has the CNIPA done to protect intellectual property associated with the Olympic Games? Thank you.

Hu Wenhui:

Thanks for your question. I will answer this question. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics are major events for the Party and the country. Furthermore, a successful Beijing 2022 is China's solemn commitment to the international community. Therefore, making good preparations for the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics is an honor and an important mission. The CNIPA has thoroughly implemented the guiding principles of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions, attached great importance to the protection of intellectual property associated with the Olympics, actively deployed and implemented relevant work, and strived to provide a solid guarantee for a wonderful, extraordinary, and outstanding Olympic Games. I will briefly introduce our work in four main areas:

First, we have consolidated the foundation of work and promoted complete protection. We have announced the protection of 63 Olympic symbols submitted by the Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, including the emblem, name, abbreviation, mascot, and slogan. At the same time, we have strengthened the protection of patents and trademarks for the emblems and torch designs of the Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, providing complete protection of intellectual property associated with the Games.

Second, we have highlighted the key points of protection and enhanced the effectiveness of regulation and crackdown on intellectual property infringement. On the one hand, following the Regulations on the Protection of Olympic Symbols, we have promoted the timely release of information on licensees of the protected Olympic symbols, effectively supporting the enforcement of administrative law. On the other hand, together with the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), we have issued a special action plan for protecting the intellectual property associated with the Olympic Symbols of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, according to which a special nationwide campaign has been ongoing since mid-October last year to June this year.

Third, we have strengthened supervision to see responsibilities fulfilled locally. In collaboration with the SAMR, we have conducted special investigations in the Beijing and Zhangjiakou competition zones and various venues. For example, not long ago, some officials of the CNIPA went to Chongli district and conducted a special investigation on the intellectual property protection associated with the Olympics to ensure that the relevant protection work was practical and to provide guarantees for the smooth development of the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

Fourth, we have underlined the publicity and training of intellectual property protection to improve the ability of relevant staff. For example, in 2020 and 2021, we held special training sessions, organized in both online and offline format, on the improvement of abilities to protect intellectual property associated with the Olympics for a total of 1,100 people, which effectively improved the professional capacity of personnel who are responsible for intellectual property protection and further publicized relevant knowledge.

Next, the CNIPA will organize all localities to strengthen further the protection of intellectual property associated with the Olympics, strictly crack down on infringement before the competition, enhance the coordination during the competition, and maintain a tough stance against intellectual property infringement. We will help ensure a successful Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games with these efforts.

Thank you.