Innovation Asset Blog

Chinese IP violations becoming easier to address

Intellectual property issues that originate in China are as infamous as they are difficult to address. However, according to The Financial Post, it is becoming easier for businesses to seek legal remedies for intellectual property violations.

China has a poor international reputation for intellectual property protection. In a report by the U.S. government issued last year, it was noted that, "for a variety of historical reasons… as well as because of economic and commercial practices and official policies aimed to favor Chinese entities and spur economic growth and technological advancement, China is the world's largest source of IP theft." The report estimated China is behind between 50 and 80 percent of intellectual property theft cases worldwide.

The Canadian government also warns businesses to exercise caution when operating in China. However, the legal ability to redress grievances does exist. The Post spoke to Alberto Galasso, a professor at the University of Toronto's Institute for Management and Innovation, who says the increasing number of patent disputes in China points to a more workable intellectual property protection system.

"The surge in patent litigation suggests that Chinese companies are learning to use patents to defend their technologies against national and foreign competitors," he told the Post. "It is not unlikely that this greater use of patents will trigger legal changes that will render more effective the Chinese court system."

Peter Ackerman

Peter Ackerman

Founder & CEO, Innovation Asset Group, Inc.