**Interview with a Local Business Leader on Innovative Solutions for Intellectual Property Disputes in Wuyi County, Zhejiang**
On October 16, in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, we spoke with the head of a metal products manufacturing company in Wuyi County, who recently experienced a significant breakthrough in resolving a patent dispute. He shared his insights on how the region’s innovative approach to intellectual property (IP) protection has transformed the landscape for local businesses.
“Previously, we would have had to travel back and forth multiple times to resolve a patent infringement issue. Now, it’s as simple as submitting our request locally, and the departments from Wuyi and Yongkang handle the case together, allowing the dispute to be resolved immediately,” he explained. This streamlined process has given businesses a sense of security in their innovation and entrepreneurship.
The local company’s positive experience stems from Wuyi County’s pioneering cross-regional cooperation model for intellectual property protection. This new approach, which allows associated cases to be handled in one location, significantly reduces the inconvenience for stakeholders involved in disputes.
Historically, the high costs and lengthy processes associated with IP case resolutions have hindered the sustainable growth of the private sector in Zhejiang, a province known for its robust entrepreneurial spirit. Many companies have found IP protection to be a significant concern. In response, Zhejiang has launched a major effort to optimize the business environment as part of its “No. 1 Reform Project,” with a particular focus on enhancing IP protection services to make them more effective and accessible.
Wuyi County, recognized as a national pilot for the standardized handling of patent infringement disputes, has emerged as a crucial model for reform. Last year, leveraging its geographic proximity and comparable industries with neighboring areas like Yongkang and Jinyun, Wuyi established cross-regional IP protection collaborations and issued the “Guidelines for Joint Law Enforcement and Administrative Decision-Making on Patent Disputes.”
This year, the collaborative efforts expanded further. “In early June, we signed cooperation agreements with Zaozhuang City and Nanzhang County in Hubei, and Yunhe County in Lishui, marking the first instance of cross-province IP dispute resolutions,” shared Hu Zhuohui, head of the IP department at the Wuyi Market Supervision Administration.
In addition to developing cross-regional collaboration models, Wuyi has streamlined the dispute resolution process through what they call a “green channel,” promoting on-site handling of grassroots cases and early involvement in criminal cases. One notable initiative is the “One Station, One Officer” system, which assigns dedicated IP liaison officers to 18 major local enterprises in high-risk sectors such as electric tools and food-contact containers.
“IP is the lifeblood of private enterprises, and even if you win a lawsuit, you could still lose market space,” the business leader emphasized. To protect its local economy, Wuyi is integrating various resources to explore a more diversified approach to mediation.
At the Wuyi social governance center, a dedicated IP administrative adjudication chamber has been established, consolidating efforts from five different departments, including the People’s Court and the Justice Bureau. Hu articulated, “Wuyi’s innovation integrates IP dispute resolution into the grassroots governance system, allowing for centralized processing of all types of IP disputes such as patents, trademarks, and copyrights.”
Moreover, under the guidance of the new “Fengqiao Experience,” local social and industry forces have actively participated in mediating disputes. Wuyi has fostered a people-centered mediation mechanism that emphasizes resolving issues before resorting to formal litigation. Lawyers and patent agents have volunteered to assist in pre-litigation mediation, striving for solutions that avoid court altogether.
This collaboration has yielded tangible results, such as the partnership between 17 industry associations and seven law firms to offer legal services geared towards IP protection. For example, the collaboration between Wuyi’s poker industry and Zhejiang Zhongyi Law Firm successfully managed several cases of infringement, recovering over 30 million yuan in economic losses.
An efficient administrative adjudication mechanism is crucial in this process. To address the risks associated with lawsuits over patent disputes, Wuyi has established a county-level IP administrative adjudication committee to discuss and decide complex cases. They also implemented a fast-tracking mechanism for simple cases, reducing processing times from three months to just one month.
Protecting intellectual property starts at the source. Zhejiang is determined to become a stronghold for intellectual property, setting up rapid review channels for potential high-value patents. This year, the province expanded its quick review processes to cover the “315” innovation system and the related advanced manufacturing clusters in “415X.”
For companies like the well-regarded “Kangbach” in Wuyi, which boasts over 200 different types of patents and approximately 600 products sold domestically and internationally, the perks of an efficient patent application process have been significant. Their R&D director, Li Shengqiang, expressed appreciation for the local market supervision department’s support, including timely policy guidance.
“The patent application process used to be lengthy, but now we’re able to apply for several new patents, like coating detection technology and rust-free iron skillet technology, with a much quicker turnaround,” he said.
As this innovative approach takes root, Wuyi is opening new doors for high-quality development in Zhejiang’s mountainous regions. In the first half of this year, Wuyi County reported a GDP of 16.715 billion yuan, marking a 7.5% year-on-year increase—the highest in Jinhua City—while also earning a spot among the top 100 counties nationwide for technological innovation in 2024.
“Innovation is the primary driving force for development, and protecting intellectual property is crucial for safeguarding that innovation,” a representative from the Wuyi County Reform Office concluded. The local government is committed to persisting in its efforts to innovate its intellectual property protection systems, providing robust support for new development advantages.