Recent Developments in the IP-Law of the People’s Republic of China

Abstract

In the past decades, China has transformed itself from a low-cost country into the second biggest economy on the planet. This remarkable developmental leap is based on multiple factors, including, unfortunately, widespread violations of intellectual property rights. The predominant view outside of the country sees theft of ideas as an integral part of Chinese economic policy. But how substantiated are these negative opinions in reality? Wouldn’t it be appropriate to analyze the status quo using a differentiated approach and to take a closer look at tangible measures and results without neglecting existing need for reform? The purpose of this article is to outline some important recent developments in the field of protection of intellectual property rights in China.