On the morning of April 11, Shanghai Intellectual Property Court (“SIPC”) held a press conference to issue the Implementation Opinions on Building a World-Class Intellectual Property Court (2019-2021) (the “Implementation Opinions”). President Chen Yajuan, Vice President Li Shulan, and full-time member of the Adjudgement Committee of SIPCChen Huizhenattended the press conference. Some 20 journalists from the central news agencies in Shanghai, such as Xinhua News Agency, People’s Daily, China News Agency, and People’s Court Daily, and from local media, such as Wenhui Daily, Xinmin Evening News, Shanghai TV, and Shanghai News Broadcasting, also attended the press conference.

It is reported that over the past four-plus years since its establishment, SIPC has given full play to its leading role in judicial protection of intellectual property rights, comprehensively deepened judicial reform, and has initially worked out the development model of a special intellectual property court with Chinese characteristics and Shanghai characteristics. It has established a set of trial work mechanism in line with the law of intellectual property trial, continuously improving its competence in trial; tried a number of major typical cases, demonstrating the clear attitude of encouraging and protecting innovation, and increased judicial authority; established an open, transparent, convenient and efficient judicial mechanism, and enhanced its judicial credibility; built a high-quality team of trial professionals, fully implemented the judicial responsibility system, thereby improving their ability to perform their duties; carried out international exchanges and cooperation, gaining good reputation, and promoted the international influence of intellectual property justice in China.

The Implementation Opinions suggest that guided by Xi Jinping’s idea on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, SIPC will fully implement the spirit of the 19^th National Congress of the CPC, act against the top standards and the best level across the world, enhance the ability in trial and institutional innovation, play a leading role in judicial protection of intellectual property rights, striving to become a leading intellectual property court both in China and across the world.

According to the Implementation Opinions, revolving around this general goal of building a world-class intellectual property court, SIPC strives to become, in three years, more professional, intelligent, international, authoritative and influential. It will try to become an intellectual property court where fair and professional trials are guaranteed, a court featuring innovative trial mechanisms, intelligent ways of doing judicial work, open judicial development and a galaxy of trial professionals. These goals are to be achieved through the completion of 30 specific tasks. Efforts will be made to strengthen the organization and implementation of such tasks to make sure the tasks go well and the goals be achieved smoothly.

President Chen Yajuan said at the press conference: “SIPC will remain steadfast in its political standing, play its role and do its job well. We will assume our responsibility and live up to our mission, striving to meet the international top standards and make SIPC a world-class court. We will work hard to lead the judicial reform and innovative development in the new era.”