Intellectual property rights protection and livelihood-related disputes were focuses at a Leading Party Members' Group meeting of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) on Nov 9.

Zhou Qiang, chief justice and president of the SPC, chaired the meeting and delivered a speech, saying that there is a need for judicial support in China’s national strategies and highlighting the significance of IPR protection and livelihood-related cases.

He stressed the significance of protecting intellectual property rights through judicial measures.

As innovation becomes a driver of a country's development, IP-related litigation and trial mechanism should be optimized and the SPC's intellectual property tribunal be launched to protect enterprises and individuals' rights and to promote private economy.

In addition, IP-related affairs are a main type of violation of foreign merchants' legal rights.

A fairer and more transparent foreign-related legal system should be built to protect foreign-funded enterprises' rights and interests, which is conducive to creating a more international legal business environment.

The SPC's International Commercial Tribunal will also contribute to the development of the newly opened free trade zones and ports.

Serving the people to guarantee them a stronger sense of gain, of happiness and of security was also pointed out at the meeting as a principle and basis of judicial work.

Zhou said courts should adopt innovative technology to litigation service centers to make litigation, mediation and adjudication more scientific and intelligentized.

Livelihood-related cases and disputes, covering such areas as employment, education and medical treatment, are required to be handled attentively.