China says the protection of intellectual property rights for the Beijing Olympics will be comprehensive. A spokesman of the State Intellectual Office made the remark at a press conference held in Beijing on Thursday. CRI reporter Wu Peng has more.

Reporter:

Yin Xintian, spokesman of the State Intellectual Office, introduced the latest progress in China's protection of intellectual property rights at the press conference. He noted that China has taken its due responsibilities, and has witnessed great achievements.

"The State Intellectual Property Office of China accepted 690 thousand patent applications in 2007, 21 percent higher than the same period last year. The National Copyright Administration has beefed up its efforts to fight pirated software, and a special campaign on cracking down network infringements has also been launched."

Yin Xintian focused on the protection of intellectual property rights for the Beijing Olympics, saying it is one of the major tasks for this year's IPR protection. He said China is going to make all-around efforts.

" Olympic IPR protection is not limited to the Olympic Mascot Fuwa. It is also extended to Olympic emblem, anthem and flag. Furthermore, according to the current patent law, copyright law and trademark law, sports equipment and facilities will be under protection as well."

The spokesman told reporters that close to 3 thousand suspects were arrested for IPR infringements in China in 2007. The public security departments have investigated over 2,200 cases of IPR infringement and cracked over 2,000 cases, involving 1.5 billion yuan, or some 210 million U.S. dollars.

Meanwhile, China confiscated some 110 million pirated audio-visual products in a crackdown on intellectual property rights infringement last year.

Wu Peng, CRI news.