In 2006, patent applications and grants in GD totaled to 90,886 and 43,516, accounting for 19.32 per cent and 19.44 per cent of the national total numbers respectively. Among them, the number of Invention Patent applications was 21,351, up 65.7 per cent and accounting for 17.5 per cent of the national total, and the number of Invention Patent grants was 2,441, up 30.1 per cent, accounting for 9.7 per cent of the national total. The numbers of patent applications and grants both ranked first in China for twelve consecutive years; the number of Invention Patent applications ranked first for two consecutive years. For the first time, the percentage of Invention Patent applications broke through 20 per cent of the provincial total. Such developments improved the structure of patent applications in GD.

The enterprise's status as the major force of innovation was further fortified. Corporate patent filings reached 33,737, accounting for 37.1 per cent of the provincial total and 20 per cent of the national total. Among those, corporate Invention Patent applications were 15,455, accounting for 72.4 per cent of the provincial total and 27.4 per cent of the national total.

In recent years, the PCT international patent filings have increased fast. In 2006, GD's PCT international patent filings reached 1722, up 74.12 per cent over the year 2005, accounting for 44.04  per cent of the national total.

Patent administrative enforcement was strengthened in 2006. The Intellectual Property Offices (IPOs) at all levels across GD received 236 patent-related cases and disputes and investigated 57 cases of patent infringement. A manpower of 1914 was mobilized to conduct 238 inspections of commercial areas. In addition, IPOs guided diverse trade fairs and exhibitions in settling 807 patent-related cases, and trade associations in mediating 127 patent-related cases.

In 2006, GD Provincial IPO improved the efficiency of administrative enforcement by implementing responsibility system and enhancing personnel quality. For example, due to effective strengthening of patent enforcement, all cases received by Shenzhen IPO in 2006 were concluded in time. Foshan IPO handled a number of influential foreign-related patent cases in a timely and effective manner, thus winning patent owners'appreciation. The French company SEB presented to Foshan IPO an honoring plate containing expressions of their commendation of Foshan IPO's efforts..

IPOs in GD actively carried out cross-department and cross-regional enforcement operations. During the World Intellectual Property Day period, GD Provincial IPO worked closely with relevant departments in launching joint IPR protection campaigns and publicity activities.

Editor: Wing