ˇˇ BEIJING, May 20 (Xinhuanet) -- China's Ministry of Science and Technology
announced in Beijing Monday that research bodies responsible for key state
research programs could own patents derived from those programs, a great leap
forward in the country'spatent management system.
ˇˇˇˇThe State Council General Office recently approved a regulation on patent management
of state scientific and technological research programs. China's ministries
and localities are ordered to comply with the regulation to help
produce more patents through state-funded research work.
ˇˇˇˇThe ministry's spokesman Shi Dinghuan said that the state would grant
research bodies the ownership of any patent resulting from state-sponsored
projects, except those vital to national security, and the state and public
interests.
ˇˇˇˇResponsible research bodies could decide on future use of the patented
technology, said Shi, also director-general of the ministry.
ˇˇˇˇMeanwhile, the state still had the right to freely use the patent and
develop relevant technology, Shi said.
ˇˇˇˇThe state's science and technology management bodies were alsoresponsible
to urge patent owners to judiciously commercialize their patents.
ˇˇˇˇThe regulation said that relevant researchers could have priority in
gaining patents transferred by research bodies.
ˇˇˇˇStatistics showed that since the 1990s, Chinese scientists have made about
30,000 scientific breakthroughs each year. In 1998,the five core national
research programs resulted in 1,369 patents,including 462 inventions.
ˇˇˇˇThe traditional system of state ownership of those patents gives
researchers less chance of applying for patents.
ˇˇˇˇMany developed countries including Japan and the United Statesadopted bills
to protect researchers' interests at the end of lastcentury.
ˇˇˇˇ"It's high time for China to revise regulations on patent ownership after
its access into the World Trade Organization," said Shi, implying that
multinational stance on patents and technological expansion will speed up
introduction of the new system. Enditem
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