BC Law’s Program on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (PIE) on Sept. 10-12 hosted a delegation of intellectual property experts from the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) of Jiangsu Province, China.
The 17-member delegation was in Boston to learn about American perspectives on intellectual property. The group engaged in intellectual exchange with BC Law faculty and staff.
PIE faculty director Professor David Olson (pictured front row, fourth from right), who in 2018 was certified by China’s State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs as a foreign expert in intellectual property law, lectured on IP law characteristics and enforcement. Jason Wen, director of BC’s Office of Technology Transfer and Licensing, made a presentation to the delegates on his area of expertise.
Professor Olson noted after his lectures that although Chinese patent law only began in 1985, it has developed very rapidly, and is becoming increasingly sophisticated and nuanced. “The importance of Chinese patent law to American and multinational companies only continues to grow. It was fascinating to discuss how similar our patent systems are in so many ways, and to also note our differences,” he said.
“I applaud patent officials in China for their determined outreach and international comparisons. This allows them to learn about and adopt the best practices found in the US and other countries. I look forward to continued exchange regarding this very important system in the ever-more innovative country that is China.”