Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles (2006)
China International Trade Fair for Home Textiles and Accessories
28 – 30 August 2006, Shanghai New International Expo Centre
 
Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles houses on-site Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) office as Chinese government gets tough on offenders

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) is becoming an increasingly important issue in China as the government takes stiff measures to get tough on offenders. In an unprecedented move, China has taken the initiative to implement a compulsory and comprehensive actionable IPR policy by setting up a Complaints Review Panel (CRP). Given the explosive growth of China’s exhibition industry, it is in the government’s interest to promote the healthy development of the exhibitions industry in the region. Since 2004, in an effort to protect exhibitors, global exhibition organiser, Messe Frankfurt has taken significant steps to facilitate the China governments IPR process by setting up an on-site IPR office. CRP officers will be based at the Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles and at their other exhibitions in the region.

Having an IPR office on-site enables exhibitors to go directly to the CRP officers in charge and file a complaint against offenders. It is hoped that the on-site IPR office will prove an effective deterrent to potential offenders at exhibitions. Housing an on-site IPR exhibition is historically important, not only for this show but the whole of China’s exhibitions industry.

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles really stands out amongst other trade fairs in China in terms of professionalism and the quality of service it offers to both exhibitors and visitors alike. “With designers the world over showing such a vast range of original and innovative designs, the need for on-site IPR facility is even more pressing to protect their intellectual property rights,” says Ms Annie Ma, Group Manager of Trade Fairs, Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd.  An on-site IPR office will be a real confidence boost for those showing their work at ‘Designer’s Studio’. Messe Frankfurt leads the way in aligning its IPR policy with the China government’s efforts to stamp out copyright offenders with its CRP.

The CRP is a government led consultancy service related to IPR, comprising local Bureau officers of Intellectual Property and Administration of Industry and Commerce and lawyers specializing in IPR protection. The CRP will review IPR disputes, giving exhibitors effective recourse to the law. If products exhibited by any other exhibitor infringe their patent, trademark or copyrights, they can now file complaints directly with the CRP.

The CRP will notify potential IPR offenders, requesting them to respond within one day and submit the required documents and proof of their legitimacy. Failing to submit relevant documents gives the CRP the right to request the respondent to suspend the display of exhibits; to destroy and suspend distribution of advertising material and remove offenders exhibiting boards. Exhibitors in question will not be allowed to re-exhibit with the same material.

Where any person commits a patent infringement, illegal incomes shall be confiscated. Offenders may be fined up to 3 times their illegal income and subject to fines of up to RMB50,000.

In an effort to help further the clamp down on copyright infringement, Messe Frankfurt now requires exhibitors to submit a warranty for the exhibits. The exhibitor must prepare in advance all the IPR certificates or the legal and valid licenses with respect to Exhibits.  Exhibitors must also acknowledge they have read the Regulation for Protection of Intellectual Property Rights during Exhibition, and warrant to observe the IPR protection laws and regulations and to abide by decisions of the CRP.

“We hope that this initiative will build the confidence of our exhibitors, and reassure them that we are doing everything in our power to protect them and their products,” says Ms Annie Ma.

For more information on Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles please visit www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com, or e-mail textile@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com