Int’l Organizations

PRC Gov. Agencies

IPR Media

While China’s economy is growing at an unprecedented rate, its sophisticated processing abilities coupled with a legislative and enforcement environment in need of continued strengthening have nurtured a surge in IPR infringements, including trademark counterfeiting and piracy. Additionally, the cross-border trade of counterfeit and pirated goods originating from China has called growing attention to this problem among the international community. The call for a concerted and coordinated government-corporate effort to address this issue was answered by the Quality Brands Protection Committee (QBPC). The QBPC, registered under the China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment (CAEFI), is comprised of more than 180 multinational member companies, which represent a total of more than US$70 billion in investment and hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities in China. 

Vision

The QBPC's mission is to work cooperatively with the Chinese central and local governments, local industries, and other organizations to make positive contributions to intellectual property protection in the People’s Republic of China.

QBPC Since 2000

The QBPC was established in an environment where IPR did not hold its current level of attention and priority. As a result, QBPC’s initial activities were focused on raising public and government awareness of the importance of IPR to China’s economy as well as the harmful effects of counterfeiting on public health and economic growth. These activities were complemented by the establishment of strong partnership programs in 2001 with national enforcement and judicial government bodies that continue to this day. As government agencies increased their protection of intellectual property, the QBPC launched an annual “Best Cases Awards” initiative starting in 2002 to recognize the efforts of local and national IPR enforcement agencies in their handling of noteworthy cases. 

Since 2000, QBPC has conducted over 80 conferences and joint projects in China and continues to work with central and local enforcement agencies to hold training seminars and exchanges of best practices. In addition, the QBPC has been very active in taking part in legislative reform by submitting comments and suggestions to the Supreme People’s Court (SPC), Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) and related legislative offices on revisions of a number of laws, regulations, and enforcement standards. 

Thanks to the support of Vice Premier Wu Yi, following the IPR-focused meetings held in 2003 and 2004, a quarterly exchange mechanism was established between the QBPC and the Market Order Rectification Office (MORO) for the purpose of continuing dialogue and IPR exchange between industry, the central government, and enforcement organs. Continuous dialogue has enhanced understanding, fostered mutual trust, and laid out a solid ground for cooperation.

QBPC’s efforts have not only attracted the attention of the Chinese government, but  have also been recognized by foreign governments and international organizations; in particular, the Global Anti-Counterfeiting Group (GACG), which awarded the QBPC for outstanding achievements in 2002 and 2004.

QBPC in 2008

Backed by government, industry, and public and international cooperation, the QBPC is committed to the following goals in 2008:

• Continue to strengthen the QBPC’s role as a bridge between China and the international community by facilitating the exchange of IP information, education, and best practices among domestic and international IP related organizations;
• Work collaboratively with the National People’s Congress, the Chinese government, and the Court System at the national, regional, and local levels to promote legislation and legal system reforms favorable to effective protection of IPR and innovation;
• Strengthen criminal and administrative enforcement efficiency;
• Strengthen existing cross-border enforcement, and coordinate border enforcement response strategies to address challenges in emerging bases of domestic counterfeit and pirated export activity;
• Increase public awareness of IP issues and reduce consumer demand for counterfeit and pirated goods;
• Evaluate and evolve QBPC’s organizational structure, and continue to support membership retention, recruitment, and communication efforts.