BEIJING, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government published an action plan on Wednesday to crack down on infringements of intellectual property rights (IPR) over the next two years and has vowed to prosecute local government officials who fail to follow the plan.

    An official with a task force for IPR protection under the government said the plan highlighted the government's determination to protect IPR.

    The plan promises to improve the country's legal framework, and increase administrative and judicial efforts to protect IPR.

    China's crackdown on IPR infringements will encourage independent innovation and safeguard the legitimate interests and rights of IPR holders, says the plan.

    Copyright piracy, trademark and patent infringements have been listed as a top priority.

    Local governments are instructed to firmly clamp down on pirated audio and video disks, and on shipments of pirated products by mail, air, road and rail.

    Local leaders will be held accountable for failures to protect intellectual property rights, and officials will be prosecuted if they are suspected of covering up IPR infringements, including failures to report criminal offences, says the plan.

    It calls for closer cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to curb violations of IPR laws and regulations.

    It also aims to improve awareness and capability in the corporate world, research institutions, and schools of higher learning, encouraging them to create, manage, use and safeguard IPR. Public education will also be strengthened.

    The plan calls for a mechanism to enable governments to coordinate efforts to prevent cover-ups in infringement cases.

    It will include a supervising administration to prevent serious violations and break up the gangs involved.

    The plan also urges local governments to make IPR protection a priority and to include it in social and economic development programs.

    The government will strengthen management of departments in charge of trademarks, copyrights, patents and public security at grassroots levels to make their law enforcement capability compatible with their responsibility.

    It calls on government departments to clear up outstanding trademark infringement problems through stricter management.

    The plan promises greater efforts to crack down on major patent infringement cases by handling those cases more efficiently.

    It lists food, drugs, agriculture, and new and high technology as priorities in the protection of patent rights.

    China will establish IPR infringement service centers in 50 cities to coordinate protection efforts.

    Zheng Shaodong, Assistant Minister of Public Security, said police have recorded more than 6,700 infringement cases in the past five years, involving 3.5 billion yuan (437.5 million U.S. dollars).

    They had arrested more than 9,300 people for alleged violations, and broken up several international criminal networks, Zheng said.

    Under Chinese law, IPR-related criminals face up to seven years in prison and fines in accordance with different types of infringements.

    China's customs and public security authorities will hold regular joint meetings to combat infringements, the Shanghai Evening Post reported on Thursday. Enditem