Organizers of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, have striven to improve the intellectual property protection mechanism to create a fair and just trade environment for the exhibitors.
The Canton Fair, China's pioneering platform for practicing intellectual property protection, continues to evolve its mechanisms to ensure a fair trade environment. At the 135th edition of the Canton Fair, exhibitors flock to the IP and trade dispute complaint reception office seeking guidance on potential infringements, underscoring the event's commitment to safeguarding intellectual property rights.
The 135th Canton Fair opened on April 15 in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province. Scheduled to run until May 5, the fair boasts around 74,000 exhibition booths, with the participation of about 29,000 exhibitors.
At this year's Canton Fair, many exhibitors have come to the complaint reception office to seek guidance on the procedures for filing complaints regarding suspected IP infringement.
Qiao Weihong, an exhibitor from northeast China's Liaoning Province, found it convenient to initiate his case just by uploading the evidence onto a website.
"Now I am very clear about [how to protect our rights]. I will upload [the evidence] right away and they assured me that they will deal with the complaint today. Having this complaint reception office at the fair gives us a sense of protection, and it boosts our confidence in developing new products," he said.
According to Li Jun, director of Canton Fair IPR and Trade Dispute Complaint Reception Office, based on the severity of the infringement, penalties including a lifetime ban on participation in the Canton Fair may be issued to enhance the IPR protection.
"For products suspected of infringement, we will promptly request their removal from the exhibition and prohibit further display. Depending on the severity of the infringement, penalties may include booth space reduction, a six-session ban on participating in the fair, or a permanent ban," he said.
Thanks to the IPR protection efforts, more and more exhibitors choose to display their latest products and technologies at the Canton Fair. According to the organizers, the 135th Canton Fair will see launches and debut exhibitions of 315 new products.
Since its inception in 1999, with the establishment of a complaint reception office and the introduction of procedures for handling infringement complaints, the fair has become a model for IP protection in the country's exhibition industry.
Canton Fair fortifies intellectual property protection measures, ensuring fair trade environment
