Trademark registration soars in 2004

China saw its trademark registration soar in 2004, with up to 588,000 applications, the highest in the world for three years in a row.

The 2004 number is an increase of 30 percent from 2003 and more than double the number in 2001 when China was admitted to the World Trade Organization, said An Qinghu, director of the Trademark Bureau under the Chinese State Administration for Industry and Commerce, Sunday.

Overseas applicants have also on rise, exceeding 60,000 in 2004,a 29.82 percent growth over 2003, he said.

The soaring trademark registrations not only show China's achievements in protecting intellectual property rights, but indicate great confidence in China's investing environment and market of overseas applicants, An said.

Source: Xinhua