China plans to set up special service centers in 50 cities within three years to handle domestic complaints on the infringement of intellectual property rights (IPR), Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Jiang Zengwei said here Tuesday.

Also Director of the State Office of Intellectual Property Protection, Jiang told a press conference held by the Information Office of the State Council that these centers will provide IPR-related consulting services so as to raise the general public's awareness of IPR protection.

Upon completion, these service centers will be connected to official websites of departments in charge of IPR protection, he said.

According to Jiang, the emphasis of China's IPR protection in 2006 is to establish a vertical IPR protection system from the central government to local governments at all levels.

IPR protection will be high on the agenda of local governments and their programs for economic and social development, said Jiang.

In 2006, China plans to establish and improve the supervision system for IPR protection, establish the system of accountability and improve its IPR protection system that has a unified leadership with different departments in charge of its own duties, said Jiang.

Jiang said that this year China will combine the routine supervision of IPR protection with special campaigns and make more efforts in investigating big IPR infringement cases.

China will strengthen its efforts in combating pirated cads, handling trademark and patent right infringement as well as enhancing the administration of expositions to prevent fake or IPR infringement goods, said Jiang.

Source: Xinhua