Zhou Qiang, president of the Supreme People's Court, required courts to strengthen intellectual property right (IPR) protection and give full play to their trial function so as to provide stronger judicial service and guarantees for implementing the innovation-driven development strategy, building strength in science and getting off to a good start in fully building a modern socialist China.

He made the requirements before a symposium on national courts’ trial work in IPRs held on Nov 12 in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province.

Zhou said that the trial work of IPRs protects innovation, creativity and fair competition.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, courts nationwide have continued to serve the overall situation, administrating justice for the people and maintaining judicial fairness. They have given full play to trials of IPRs, heard a group of major cases regarding them, and deepened reform in the field. They promoted the continuous improvement of the IPR trial system’s credibility and international influence.

Upholding the central role of innovation in the modernization drive and implementing the innovation-driven development strategy were important measures highlighted at the fifth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, Zhou said. They provide a crucial opportunity for the IPR trial work and also bring new and higher requirements in this regard.

Zhou required courts at all levels to firmly implement the new development concept, closely follow the theme of promoting high-quality development, focus on speeding up the formation of a new development pattern, and strengthen judicial protection of IPRs.

More efforts should be made to strengthen the judicial protection for IPRs regarding emerging industries, major areas and key technologies so as to cultivate a sound rule of law environment for businesses to improve their technological innovation capability, and to improve the scientific and technological innovation systems and mechanisms, said Zhou.

Through reform and innovation, courts should improve their IPR litigation system, quicken smart court construction, and speed up the modernization of IPR litigation system and capability. At the same time, international judicial communication and cooperation in this regard should be strengthened to continuously improve China's global influence in the judicial protection of IPRs and cultivate China as a prioritized destination for settling international IPR disputes, said Zhou.

He added that an IPR trial team which is loyal, clean and responsible should be developed to ensure fair and clean administration of justice.