International Trade Lawmaking @ Beijing Normal University

Is the Chinese government the agent of the western copyright industry? It sounds weird but a pack was just signed in Beijing with Business Software Alliance and The Publishers Association in the U.K., and, in the U.S., the Association of American Publishers and the Motion Picture Association of America. If they hand over their claims against infringement, they get a fast-track treatment. Would that be consistent with the National Treatment under the WTO TRIPS?

http://news.com.com/China+signs+licensing+pact+with+U.S.%2C+U.K./2100-1014_3-6144063.html

It’s the second time that the court ruled against the Ministry of Finance in the government procurement dispute. This is largely caused by two conflicting laws–Government Procurement Law and Government Bidding Law that are administered by the Ministry of Finance and the National Commission of Reform and Development.

http://news.sina.com.cn/c/l/2006-12-17/234411814555.shtml

Fiyat spokesman said their legal tem in Turin were assessing the possiblity of suing Greatwall Automobile for infringing the design patent of Fiyat “Panda” cars. Greatwall denied the infringement charge and insisted that its “Spirit” cars were independently designed by its internal designers. Spirit cars are going to be sold in Italian market in the second half of 2007.

http://msn.ynet.com/view.jsp?oid=17976399

There have been several disputes over automobile design patents between international car manufactures (such as Toyota and General Motors) and booming Chinese car industry (Geely and QQ). Report for Toyota v. Geely case is at http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200311/24/eng20031124_128904.shtml.

By the end of 2006, China has more than 20 million Internet traders doing various business online. Most of them are one-person business and credibility has become a primary concern for consumers.

http://discovery.ynet.com/view.jsp?oid=17979106

The Minister of Justice, Mr. Zhang Sujun, emphasizes the importance of administrative sanction against piracy in an interview with the Journal of 21st Century. His talk just followed the recent release of the USTR Assessment Report on China’s WTO Committment, which labels intellectual property protection as one of areas that have fallen back or slowed down the reform.

http://tech.sina.com.cn/it/2006-12-14/09431288065.shtml