On the morning of April 9, Shanghai Intellectual Property Court held a symposium and training session for technical investigators. Li Shulan, Vice President of Shanghai Intellectual Property Court, Chen Huizhen, full-time member of the Judicial Committee, technical investigators employed and heads of No.1 Intellectual Property Division, No.2 Intellectual Property Division and Technical Investigation Division attended the symposium, which was presided over by Chen Huizhen. Head of Technical Investigation Division summed up the work of Technical Investigation Division since its establishment from such aspects as team building, system construction, duty performance, centralized management and coordination of “four-in-one” technical fact-finding mechanism, and IT support, etc., and put forward suggestions on the future work. Vice President Li Shulan appreciated the technical assistance provided by technical investigators in technical intellectual property cases and affirmed their achievements. She put forward four requirements on the future work of technical investigators combining the requirements and spirit of the Opinions on Several Issues Concerning Strengthening Reform and Innovation in Intellectual Property Trials promulgated by the Central Committee of CPC and the General Office of the State Council. First, to find the right orientation and do a good job in technical investigation. Technical investigators shall provide objective, impartial, neutral and professional technical examination opinions according to the institutional design, so as to promote the efficiency of trials. Second, to perform duty conscientiously and provide quality and efficient professional technical services. Technical investigators should make full use of their technical advantages and better play their role in assisting technical fact-finding. Third, to forge ahead and actively accumulate the experience in technical investigator system. Technical investigatorsneed to strictly abide by the top-level design and the requirements of the Party Leadership Group on technical investigation, draw on the useful experience of foreign courts and fraternal courts, and continuously explore and summarize the technical investigator system in line with the characteristics of intellectual property courts. Fourth, to reinforce learning and build a high-quality, specialized technical investigator team. With the development of new technology and new industry, technical investigators should strengthen their study and constantly enhance their professionalism, so as to meet the needs of the trial work.

After the symposium, Judge Lu Fengyu and Judge He Yuan trained the technical investigators on patent and software cases respectively. Technical investigators said that they were very inspired and gained a great deal. It’s hoped that Shanghai Intellectual Property Court will strengthen the training on relevant legal knowledge, so that they can better serve the trials of intellectual property cases.