Chinese people today are more aware about the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR). Though many still have a vague idea about IPR, more businesspersons and consumers are paying attention to intellectual property, including patents, copyrights and trademarks.

A World Intellectual Property Organization report, issued in February, says China applied for 7,946 patents last year. That only the United States, Japan, Germany and the Republic of Korea applied for more shows the rising level of IPR awareness in China.

David Llewelyn, legal expert on IPR issues and deputy chairman of the Intellectual Property Academy of Singapore, says China has made good progress in IPR. The country has made great efforts and achieved lot in the area in a relatively short time. A latecomer to the intellectual property field, China introduced its first IPR law, the Trademark Law, in 1982. In less than three decades since then, it has put in place a fairly complete and mature IPR law system.