WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center Signed Cooperation Agreement with Hainan High People’s Court | Series Reports (III)

April 3, 2023

On March 31, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Center and Hainan High People’s Court signed the Agreement concerning Cooperation on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the Area of Intellectual Property (IP).  Ms. Wang Binying, Deputy Director General of WIPO, attended and addressed the Signing Ceremony.  

Ms. Wang expressed that, as the specialized agency of the United Nations for IP development and protection, WIPO leads the development of a balanced and effective global IP ecosystem to promote innovation and creativity for a better and more sustainable future, and works towards a world where innovation and creativity from anywhere is supported by IP for the good of everyone.  Hainan is building a free trade port with high quality and standards.  WIPO is pleased to see that Hainan has made remarkable achievements in the area of innovation and IP, and welcomes the cooperation between the Hainan High People’s Court and the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center on ADR in the area of IP.  WIPO believes this cooperation will support the construction of Hainan into a powerful IP province.

About the Signing Ceremony

The Signing Ceremony was conducted in a hybrid format.  Mr. Erik Wilbers, Senior Director of WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, signed the Cooperation Agreement and delivered remarks online.  Mr. Ignacio de Castro, Director, IP Disputes and External Relations Division of WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, delivered an online presentation on WIPO ADR services.  Ms. Liu Hua, Director of the WIPO Office in China, and Mr. Lv Guoqiang, Person-in-charge of the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Shanghai Service, attended the Signing Ceremony.

Mr. Li Rongcan, Chairman of the Hainan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Justice Ms. Wang Shumei, Standing Member of the Adjudication Committee of the Supreme People’s Court of China, and Justice Mr. Dai Jun, President of Hainan High People’s Court attended and address the Signing Ceremony.

Mr. Li Rongcan pointed out that, the cooperation between Hainan and WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center can effectively connect with international rules on the resolution of IP disputes, rapidly resolve IP disputes, improve the quality and efficiency of dispute resolution, and create a world-class environment based on the rule of law for the high-level institutional opening up of the Free Trade Port.

Ms. Wang Shumei expressed that, the signing of the Cooperation Agreement between the Hainan High People's Court and WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center fully reflects the trust of international community in the business environment and the level of judicial protection of IP rights in Hainan Free Trade Port.  It is hoped that Hainan courts will take this opportunity to build a preferred place for international IP dispute resolution, strengthen international judicial exchanges and cooperation, enhance talent cultivation on foreign-related rule of law, and strengthen the capacity for judicial protection of IP rights.

Mr. Dai Jun said that the establishment of the cooperative relationship between the Hainan High People's Court and WIPO is of great significance in strengthening IP protection, promoting international judicial exchanges and cooperation, and letting the advantages of judicial trials and professional mediations superimpose on and complement one another.

During the Signing Ceremony, the Hainan High People’s Court released the Guidelines on Litigation-Mediation Coordination between the Hainan High People’s Court and the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Shanghai Service, and the Hainan Free Trade Port Intellectual Property Court referred the first batch of court-referred mediation cases to the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Shanghai Service.

Participants of the Signing Ceremony also included deputies to the National People’s Congress, leaders of relevant departments of the Supreme People’s Court, heads of relevant provincial units, experts and scholars from universities, and representatives of judges from Hainan courts.