"Elevating Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in China's Largest City 
and Leading Industrial Center"
Shanghai, China,  October 28-30, 2004
Hotel Equatorial Shanghai
Organized by American International Education Foundation (AIEF),
Shanghai Municipal People Government and Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration, with support from the U.S. Embassy in China and U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai

This invitation-only event brings together distinguished government officials, educators, industry leaders and legal professionals from the United States and China. Employing a multi-level collaborative approach, the workshop is designed to help Shanghai fight its serious counterfeiting and piracy problem, which is having a devastating effect on the global economy.

The workshop launches an ambitious seven-year training initiative by AIEF, under the guidance of the International Council on Intellectual Property Rights. Over the next seven years, advanced IPR training will be provided to Shanghai policy makers, administrators, educators, judges, custom officers, business owners and enforcement agents. 

In this context, the October 2004 workshop's objectives include:

• Establishing the groundwork for immediate and long-term IPR training priorities in Shanghai. 

• Strengthening the communication channels between U.S. and Shanghai policy makers and other stakeholders regarding IPR issues in industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, information technology, manufacturing and entertainment.

• Reviewing China's current legal, institutional and regulatory IPR infrastructure to help Shanghai officials address challenges and potential improvements, and help U.S. companies understand the system to better protect assets.

• Increasing local awareness in Shanghai of the negative effects that IPR infringements have on China's own economy, such as reducing international investments, limiting domestic R&D activities and curbing overall growth.

Planned activities include:

• Panel discussions on key IPR issues affecting industries such as pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, information technology, biotechnology and entertainment.

• Workshops for Chinese audience on WTO requirements, technology transfers, conflict resolutions and international IPR contracts.

• Workshops for U.S. audience on China's current patent application, trademark application and judicial process.

• Planning meetings to establish short- and long-term training priorities for Shanghai audiences, plan for the city's 2005 IPR Forum, and develop the selection criteria for scholarships to IPR training programs in the United States.

• Review of technical papers and proposals - developed by students and educators from six Shanghai universities - with recommendations for elevating the city's IPR standards.

• Social gatherings to provide opportunities for networking and alliance building.

Language: English and Chinese with simultaneous interpretation.

For more information, contact Stephen Smith, Director, AIEF's Washington Office, at (240) 453-9488 or ipr@aief-usa.org.

Click here to see Workshop Agenda

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