1 Beijing

IP services alliance

An intellectual property services alliance, the first of its kind in the nation, was founded late last month in the technology hub Zhongguancun. Its 53 initial members will offer legal consulting, patent evaluation, help in commercializing IP and training. Zhongguancun is home to about one-third of the nation's patent agencies and nearly 40 percent of agents.

Cipnews.com.cn

2 Shandong

Fraudsters blacklist

The provincial government will compile and publish a blacklist of people who gain government patent funding or awards by fraud. A recently approved regulation encourages innovation and patent applications, but also mandates that companies, organizations or individuals using fake patents will have to return funds and cannot apply again for five years. Their records will also be made public.

Jinan Times

3 Anhui

Pay by smartphone

Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and China Mobile recently launched China's first homegrown payment system across the province, using near-field communication technology in smartphones. Consumers can now swipe their phones to pay at about 1.2 million near-field terminals nationwide labeled QuickPass. They can also check and top up their account by phone without needing to go to a bank or ATM.

AH.SINA.COM

4 Hunan

Patent info system

The provincial government plans to establish an integrated patent information and service system in the coming three years as part of efforts to become an intellectual property exchange center in central China. The market-oriented plan includes two websites on information and use of patents as well as consulting and training services. When completed, it will enable users to download information and communicate with industry experts online.

Hunan Daily Online

5 Fujian

20,000 counterfeit DVDs

The police in Siming district of Xiamen city recently detained three people selling pirated DVDs including a father and son surnamed Zou. Police first noticed the father selling discs every day at two different markets and arrested the two on July 25, seizing more than 600 counterfeit DVDs. They then raided a storehouse in Tongan district and found more than 20,000 pirated discs, which the suspects said were purchased in Guangdong province at 1.2 yuan ($0.19) each and sold for at least 3 yuan, according to local police.

Xiamen Daily

6 Guangdong

Boosting applications

The Nanhai district government in Foshan is promoting invention patent applications from local companies to improve its poor ranking among the Pearl River Delta cities. According to the plan, the government will invest 10 million yuan every year to reward inventors and IP agencies. It is aiming for 50 percent annual growth in invention patent applications during the next three years.

Nanfang Metropolis Daily Online

(China Daily USA 08/07/2013 page14)