In 2003, the number of patent applications and grants in Guangdong, on the basis of relatively large numbers, continued to grow rapidly, i.e. at a rate of 25.7% and 28.4% respectively in relation to 2002, reaching 43186 and 29235, accounting for one sixth and one fifth of the national total. Of these, the number of patent applications for invention was 6181, increasing 61.8% over the previous year, a record high rate of growth; this made the mix of all the three categories of patents closer to optimum. The patent application filings of Guangdong enterprises are 14510, up 23.3%. In high-tech spheres such as the IT industry, some core technologies with independent IPRs started to emerge; for instance, a GSM-related invention patent in the communications technology owned by ZTE in Shenzhen received the National Patent Gold Award 2003, thus breaking the record of zero on behalf of enterprises in Guangdong.

 Moreover, Guangdong province also received 10 National Patent Excellent Awards 2003,  accounting for 10.6% of the national sum.
The patent administration agencies at various levels across the province further perfected their organization, strengthened law enforcement, and improved capability of settling IPR dispute cases. In 2003, a total of 556 patent-related cases of diverse kinds were received; of those cases, 356 were patent dispute cases, 292 settled and closed, 200 cases of IP infringement investigated and punished, and altogether 1292 person-times dispatched for these actions.

Source: Office of Intellectual Property Protection Committee of the People¡¯s Government of Guangdong Province

Translated by: Li wei

Editor: Wing