Half of the patent applications in China were by foreign companies, "most of them in high-tech sectors and industries closely related to Chinese markets." Those crafty foreigners. According to the report, less than 1% of Chinese companies have filed for a patent, and of those, the report laments, "only a few are for invention." Sounds like China has a serious junk patent problem, an admitted concern.

As part of joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) eight years ago, China is supposedly harmonizing its Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) practices to international standards.

Speaking of crafty foreigners, Zhong Qing, Deputy Director of WTO Affairs in Beijing, observed, "Some foreign companies use progressive IPR strategy after entering Chinese market. They may register a couple of patents covering key links in the production process at the beginning of their entry into the Chinese market. This causes loss for the domestic companies who then infringing upon IPR law."

Sources: China Daily, China View