14th Bayer-Tongji Intellectual Property Forum Successfully Held in Suzhou

Suzhou, October 24, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --In the Supreme People'sWith the cooperation and strong support of the Intellectual Property Tribunal of the Supreme People’s Court and the Patent Examination Cooperation Jiangsu Center of the Patent Office of the China National Intellectual Property Administration, the Bayer–Tongji Intellectual Property Forum, jointly organized by Bayer AG and Tongji University, entered its 14th year and was held in Suzhou, a city renowned for its fragrant osmanthus. Under the theme “Comprehensive Innovation and Intellectual Property Protection in Modern Industries,” this year’s forum was honored to have Justice Luo Dongchuan, Deputy President of the Supreme People’s Court and Presiding Judge of the Intellectual Property Tribunal, deliver an opening address. More than 160 distinguished participants, including leading judges, scholars, intellectual property consultants, lawyers, and patent examiners from China and abroad, engaged in rich presentations and discussions on current hot topics in the field of intellectual property.

In his welcome address at the opening of the forum, Professor Song Xiaoting from Tongji University fully affirmed the long-standing achievements and influence within the intellectual property industry of the Bayer-Tongji Intellectual Property Forum. Dr. Raphael Oen, Head of Legal, Intellectual Property, and Compliance for Bayer Greater China, further reviewed the history of cooperation between Bayer and Tongji University as well as the forum itself. He also looked ahead to the continuous deepening and development of intellectual property protection in China. As a representative of Bayer, Dr. Oen briefly introduced the company and highlighted Bayer’s commitment to and investment in innovation. Mr. Markus Richter, Minister Counselor at the German Embassy, congratulated both Germany and China on their successful cooperation in the field of intellectual property and expressed his anticipation for productive discussions during the forum.

Following brief welcome remarks, Justice Luo Dongchuan, Vice President of the Supreme People’s Court and Presiding Judge of the Intellectual Property Tribunal, delivered an important address. He outlined the Supreme People’s Court’s longstanding efforts to advance intellectual property adjudication in China, with particular emphasis on the institutional innovations introduced by the recently established IP Tribunal of the Supreme People’s Court, as well as its future development and reform initiatives. These measures include further improving the adjudication mechanism for technology-related intellectual property cases, deepening reforms of the litigation system for such cases, and vigorously strengthening the intelligentization of judicial proceedings.

During the morning session of formal reports and discussions, Dr. Patricia Rombach, Justice of the German Federal Court of Justice, and Dr. Wang Chuang, Deputy Presiding Judge of the Intellectual Property Tribunal of the Supreme People’s Court of China, respectively presented their countries’ judicial practices and reflections on standard-essential patents (SEPs) and the FRAND framework. Dr. Zhu Li, Presiding Judge of the Intellectual Property Tribunal of the Supreme People’s Court of China, and Judge Beate Schmidt, President of the German Federal Patent Court, respectively introduced judicial practices in their respective countries concerning the interpretation of patent claims. The comparative overview of judicial practices across different countries by Chinese and foreign judges on hot-button intellectual property issues has long been a hallmark of this forum, offering attendees a valuable opportunity for learning and discussion. At the conclusion of the morning session, Dr. Joerg Thomaier, Global Executive Vice President and Chief Intellectual Property Officer of Bayer AG, addressed another current global hotspot: the Unified Patent Court (UPC) in Europe and the implications of Brexit. Drawing on Bayer’s intellectual property management practices, Dr. Thomaier vividly outlined the advantages of the European unitary patent and the Unified Patent Court, as well as the challenges posed by the uncertainties surrounding Brexit.

The afternoon session covered a wide range of topics pertaining to intellectual property (IP) protection and innovation in modern industries. Dr. Peter Ganea, Deputy Director (German Side) of the Sino-German Institute for International Economic Law at Tongji University; Professor Liu Xiaohai from the Shanghai International College of Intellectual Property at Tongji University; Mr. Li Yantao, Director of the Chemistry Department at the Patent Examination Cooperation Jiangsu Center of the Patent Office, China National Intellectual Property Administration; and Professor Song Xiaoting from the Shanghai International College of Intellectual Property at Tongji University, respectively presented their research and insights on several hot-button issues: the liability of content-sharing service providers for infringement, bad-faith trademark applications in China, patent portfolio strategies for chemical pharmaceuticals, and why the World Health Organization (WHO) has abandoned the concept of “counterfeit medicines” in relation to intellectual property. Dr. Pei Sze Ng, Director of Innovation Partnerships at Bayer Healthcare, and Ms. Lin Tong, Director of New Business Innovation Partnerships at Bayer CropScience (China), discussed how innovative companies drive innovation through extensive collaboration to deliver new products and services to the public. The speakers also responded to questions from the audience, sharing their experiences and insights.

Meanwhile, leveraging the opportunity presented by the forum held in Suzhou, representatives from Bayer China’s Intellectual Property Team and Drug Registration Team engaged in exchanges and discussions with leaders and patent examiners from the Jiangsu Center of Patent Examination Cooperation under the Patent Office of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) on pharmaceutical innovation research and intellectual property protection, thereby enhancing mutual understanding between both parties.

The “Bayer-Tongji Intellectual Property Forum” provides a robust international platform for industry experts, law enforcement agencies, intermediaries, and corporate peers to exchange views and discuss the development, utilization, management, and protection of intellectual property. It is believed that high-level cooperation and interaction between both parties will further enhance the role of this platform and generate greater impact.