WIPO Congratulates the Establishment of CIETAC Intellectual Property Arbitration Center

July 27, 2022

On July 22, Ms. Liu Hua, Director of the WIPO Office in China (WOC), attended the Inauguration Ceremony of China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) Intellectual Property Arbitration Center online and delivered a video speech.

Ms. Liu said that China's Outline of Building an IPR Powerhouse (2021-2035) expressed that China will "bolster its IP arbitration more international" and the 14th Five-Year Plan for National IP Protection and Utilization of China proposed to "improve the mechanism for diversified dispute solution of IP disputes".

Ms. Liu pointed out that the role of IP has become increasingly prominent, as countries around the globe are placing increasing emphasis on investing investment in innovative and creative industries and protecting their intangible assets through IP protection. It has become an important strategic consideration for enterprises expanding globally to ponder how to minimize risks relating to IP and property settle cross-border commercial disputes.

Ms. Liu stressed that, arbitration, given its advantages of efficiency, professionalism, neutrality, confidentiality, procedural flexibility and international enforceability of awards, has gained more and more attention from multi-natinal companies. WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (WIPO Center) is a neutral, international and non-profit dispute resolution institution, offering time- and cost- efficient alternative dispute resolution (ADR) options, such as mediation, arbitration, expedited arbitration and expert determination, to enable private parties to settle their cross-border IP and technology disputes effectively. In addition, WIPO Center has collaborated with other international organizations, industrial associations, chambers of commerce to develop tailored ADR options for disputes in the areas of information and communications technology (ICT), research and development, technology transfer, copyright and content. In 2021, WIPO Center received a total of 163 mediation, arbitration and expedited arbitration cases, achieving a year-on-year growth of 44%, and the settlement rate of mediation cases reached 75%.

Ms. Liu shared that WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Shanghai Service was the first professional institution established by an international arbitral institution in China, and its accreditation received strong support from the Chinese government. A wide variety of cases have been referred to WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Shanghai Service since it started operation in 2020, covering the full spectrum of IP, involving renowned enterprises from over 10 countries, and providing Chinese IP rights holders with a brand-new option to effectively resolve their foreign-related IP disputes. WIPO encourages more enterprises and individuals in China to make use of its ADR services to resolve cross-border disputes relating to IP and technology. The WOC is ready to  strengthen cooperation with the CIETAC Intellectual Property Arbitration Center in the field of diversified IP disputes solution.

Mr. Ren Hongbin, Chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Mr. Zhang Mingqi, Vice President and Secretary-General of China Law Society, and Mr. Lu Pengqi, Deputy Commissioner of China International Property Administration (CNIPA) attended and addressed the Ceremony. Mr. Luiz Amaral, President, International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property delivered a video message. The Ceremony was presided over by Mr. Ke Liangdong, Vice Chairman of CCPIT.