In celebration of World Intellectual Property Day, which falls on April 26, China Daily, in collaboration with China Intellectual Property News, has conducted interviews with chief executives of multinational companies, focusing on IP protection and emerging sectors. China continues to strengthen IP protection, improve the institutional environment, and foster innovation to advance new quality productive forces. The interviews reflect the international business community's views on China's innovation environment and expectations for deeper cooperation.
Q1: As China continues to strengthen IP protection in emerging sectors, how do you assess the current innovation environment's attractiveness to foreign enterprises?
Q2: In light of the Government Work Report's emphasis on developing new quality productive forces, what role do you see IP protection playing in advancing technological innovation and industrial upgrading?
Q3: In your operations in China, have you observed improvements in the efficiency and transparency of IP protection mechanisms? How have these changes influenced your business decisions?
Q4: How will China's continued emphasis on IP protection influence your company's business plan and investment in frontier technologies?
Q5: Amid intensifying global innovation competition, how do you view China's institutional approach to strengthening IP protection in fostering international cooperation and technology exchange?
Hideki Ozawa, executive vice-president of Canon Inc, and chairman and CEO of Canon (China)
A1: Canon (China) highly appreciates China's ongoing efforts in recent years to strengthen IP protection in emerging sectors and improve relevant laws and regulations, as this has provided a stable and predictable legal environment for corporate innovation and fostered healthy market competition.
Relevant policies and judicial practices reflect the needs in frontier sectors like the digital economy and AI. They also create a better business environment, facilitating foreign companies' R&D and innovation in China and boosting our confidence in investing here.
Stronger IP protection, combined with China's market and talent strengths, is enhancing the appeal of China's innovation environment to foreign companies, while bolstering our commitment to China's market.
A2: The Government Work Report's emphasis on fostering new quality productive forces through technological innovation and modernizing industrial systems closely aligns with Canon's enduring commitment to technology-driven innovation.
IP protection is fundamental to sustained R&D investment and the protection of core innovations. It supports us in driving technological iteration across sectors like imaging, printing, medical, semiconductors and industrial applications.
The steadily improving IP system has fostered a stable, fair environment for innovation. It also gives us stronger confidence to stay rooted in China, helping develop new quality productive forces with our technology and innovation capabilities and thriving with China.
A3: Canon has observed firsthand the notable improvements in the efficiency and transparency of China's intellectual property protection mechanisms.
In recent years, relevant legislation has been continuously refined, examination cycles for patents and trademarks have been shortened, and various administrative procedures have been moved online, steadily boosting processing efficiency. The newly revised Patent Law and Trademark Law have significantly enhanced transparency and predictability by detailing adjudication rules and unifying compensation standards. These enhancements have further strengthened our strategic confidence in continuing to innovate and develop in China.
A4: Canon has always attached great importance to IP protection, having ranked among the top 10 in US patent rankings for 42 consecutive years. China's continuous improvement of its IP protection system has provided a stable and reliable institutional environment for corporate R&D and innovations in frontier technologies.
Looking ahead, Canon will further increase R&D investment and strengthen patent portfolios in core areas such as imaging, intelligent office solutions, digital solutions and medical care, while accelerating the commercialization of innovation outcomes. For example, by launching projects in Guangdong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Canon has actively responded to the national initiative to build the GBA into a hub for technological innovation. By enhancing business synergy across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, Canon is further accelerating the commercialization and application of innovation outcomes across the GBA markets.
A stable IP environment will support Canon (China) in steadily advancing toward the strategic goal of "becoming the No 1 contributor to Canon Group by 2035", and deepening its presence in China's market through sustained innovation.
A5: China has been strengthening its IP protection through an institutional approach. This has created a fairer, more transparent and stable institutional environment for international technology exchange and cross-border cooperation on innovation, and is of great significance to global collaborative innovation.
For a multinational company like Canon, a well-established IP protection system helps mitigate risks in technology cooperation, and facilitates high-level international technology exchange and industrial collaborative innovation. It also strengthens our willingness to deepen R&D collaboration in China for win-win outcomes.
Brendan Mosher, international vice-president and general manager of Corning Display Technologies
A1: China's continued strengthening of IP protection, especially in emerging and technology-intensive sectors, has enhanced the attractiveness of its innovation environment for foreign enterprises. For technology-driven multinational companies like Corning, strong IP protection provides the confidence to introduce advanced technologies and work closely with local customers, suppliers and research partners. Strong IP systems are a strategic foundation for China's innovation leadership, enabling the transformation of research into globally competitive industries. As China continues to advance high-quality development, this environment encourages multinational companies to deepen local engagement and contribute to the upgrading of domestic industries as they continue their rise on a global scale.
A2: Strong IP frameworks are essential not only to protecting individual companies, but to driving economic growth by encouraging sustained investment, innovation and the development of competitive industries around the world — including those right here in China. For Corning, a company with 175 years of experience in advanced material sciences, effective IP protection allows core technologies to be applied collaboratively with Chinese industries, improving efficiency, product performance and technological capability. Strong IP systems also help innovation move from laboratory research to scalable industrial applications, supporting the transition toward higher-value segments of the value chain. Effective patent protection empowers innovators, including Corning, rewarding long-term, high-risk R&D while promoting knowledge sharing and technology diffusion.
A3: We have observed steady improvements in the efficiency and transparency of China's IP protection mechanisms, including clearer procedures and more professional enforcement. These improvements make the system more predictable and help companies better manage risk and focus on innovation. A credible IP environment supports confident decision-making around localization, collaboration and long-term planning. It also provides a more stable foundation for cross-border business activities, benefiting companies operating both within China and internationally.
A4: China's continued emphasis on IP protection provides a strong foundation for long-term investment in frontier technologies. As IP systems mature, companies can expand R&D and advanced manufacturing with greater confidence. For Corning, a stable IP environment enables deeper technology development in China and closer cooperation with local partners. It also helps ensure that innovations developed or applied here are protected to internationally recognized standards, supporting their broader application in global innovation and supply networks.
A5: China's institutional approach to strengthening IP protection plays an important role in fostering international cooperation and technology exchange. We welcome the continued evolution of the system in reinforcing high and consistent standards in the application of China's patent laws and legal procedures to encourage trust and support fair competition. In recent years, the Supreme People's Court has, through guiding and reference cases in complex trade secret disputes and other frontier IP matters, articulated helpful adjudicative principles and demonstrated a clear commitment to stronger IP protection increasingly aligned with international practice. In an increasingly competitive global environment, these developments have provided a clearer and more predictable framework for IP protection and enforcement, and are also what multinational companies hope to see further reflected and carried through in future practice. This not only benefits multinational companies like Corning, but also supports our Chinese customers and partners as they engage more deeply in international partnerships and global markets.
Jason Wu, vice-president and general manager of China at InterDigital
A1: We have taken note of China's focus and efforts in IP protection for emerging sectors, which will continue to foster a highly attractive innovation environment for foreign enterprises.
As an international company focused on wireless, video and artificial intelligence technology research and development, InterDigital values the progress China has made in IP protection.
InterDigital is a developer of foundational technologies, including 5G, 6G and advanced video compression, and believes that China's policies to optimize the business environment and improve IP protection help boost foreign enterprises' confidence in the local economy. A transparent and fair environment lays a solid foundation for multinational technology companies to deepen cooperation with local partners and succeed in China.
A2: Over the past three decades, China's efforts in establishing and modernizing its IP system have drawn a lot of attention. In my view, China's rise as an innovation powerhouse is inseparable from the government's endeavors to modernize the IP regime through a series of measures, including the establishment of specialized IP courts.
Strong IP protection, such as clearly defined rights and effective dispute-resolution mechanisms, benefits not only domestic enterprises but also foreign companies investing in China. It gives them confidence that their innovations will be respected and helps to encourage the local innovation ecosystem, leading some Chinese companies to become significant licensing players.
A3: We have clearly felt that a broad consensus has taken shape in China that strengthening intellectual property protection is conducive to long-term innovation.
In recent years, many Chinese high-tech enterprises have evolved from implementers to key licensors, or are in the process of such a transition. This shift has not only driven the expansion of patent portfolios but also reshaped the SEP (standard essential patent) landscape in China and globally. As these enterprises take on a greater role in licensing, there is a growing appreciation of the need for a clearer, fairer and more balanced licensing framework to ensure that innovators are fairly compensated for their research.
Meanwhile, Chinese courts have been playing a growing role in the SEP field. Such judicial engagement helps to boost their influence on IP dispute resolution.
A4: As a global company, we are fully committed to engaging with China's technology community and with its IP ecosystem. We own a significant global patent portfolio and, as part of this, we have invested significantly in filing new patents in China. China's importance as a global hub for innovation and manufacturing means that patent filing in China will remain a crucial part of our patent filing strategy.
A5: Amid intensifying global innovation competition, China's efforts to strengthen IP protection are significant in advancing international cooperation and technology exchange.
China's IP achievements are remarkable: major tech firms such as Huawei and ZTE have become world-leading patent holders in areas including 5G. Some are emerging as key players in IP licensing, generating substantial revenue to fuel further research and innovation, while they have also benefited greatly from standardized technologies over the past 15 years.
Collaborative, open and truly global standards offer greater advantages to Chinese original equipment manufacturers than closed systems, which risk isolation. This applies not only to smartphones and consumer electronics but also to the automotive, internet of things and video streaming sectors, where connected technologies are increasingly valuable.
Robin Smith, vice-president and general counsel of China and Asia Pacific at the LEGO Group
A1: China's innovation environment has always been appealing. However, it has definitely become even more attractive to foreign enterprises, given that the companies that do business in China are now supported by a more mature and effective IP protection system. In recent years, we've seen China's IP legal framework continue to strengthen, with increasingly effective outcomes in both criminal and civil proceedings.
For multinational companies, this increases predictability and assurance in pursuing the company's legal rights to protect its IP. And it reinforces the view that China is committed to a fair, competitive business environment, which encourages companies to focus more on creating value rather than on constantly defending against copycats.
From our own experience, the support of authorities at all levels of the Chinese government and the steady improvement of the overall IP system have created a good environment in which to operate. This gives us the confidence to continue seeing China as a priority market and to keep investing for the long term.
A2: IP protection plays a critical role in advancing innovation and industrial upgrading. At the LEGO Group, our products are built on creativity and design, and our trademarks stand for trust, safety and quality. Protecting these assets is essential not only for our business, but for all businesses, and also for consumers.
More broadly, a strong IP system creates a fair and competitive market in which genuine innovation can thrive. It gives companies the confidence to invest in new ideas, localize products and bring culturally relevant innovation to market.
As we often say, innovation, creativity and protection form a full circle. Protecting creative ideas and designs ultimately encourages more innovation and supports long-term development in all industries.
A3: We have observed significant improvements in both the efficiency and transparency of IP protection mechanisms in China with stronger legislation, deeper specialization, increased training and knowledge-sharing and more effective enforcement.
These improvements have a direct impact on business decisions. They give us greater confidence to innovate, localize and invest in China, knowing that our rights can be protected in a more predictable, forward-thinking and transparent environment.
A4: China's continued emphasis on IP protection will play an important role in shaping our future investment and business plans, especially in areas driven by creativity and innovation. Looking ahead three to five years, we see growth opportunities in innovating and localizing our portfolio; strengthening the brand through trusted, high-quality experiences; increasing manufacturing capacity and digitalization; and advancing sustainability.
In addition, as technologies and generative tools continue to evolve, the complexity of trademark infringement challenges will only increase. Stronger IP enforcement also supports our efforts to combat online and offline infringement, especially the kind we see being created through AI. We will need to accelerate our digital transformation and use online monitoring systems to map the copycat landscape across markets and build a stronger digital IP ecosystem. We are very hopeful from cases that we have already seen here, that China's continued emphasis on IP protection will assist us in these endeavors as well.
A5: Institutionalized IP protection is the bridge that connects China with the world. It creates a universal language of respect for creativity.
We have found that the best way to tackle challenges is through an "ecosystem approach", collaborating with government authorities, platforms and partners. In this collaborative model, we are able to participate in the CIIE, which fosters an environment where international companies feel comfortable sharing their best innovations. When Chinese culture-inspired products, like our Monkie Kid or Spring Festival sets, are protected and succeed first in China — they then resonate with fans globally. This exchange of culture and innovation is only possible when there is a strong, institutionalized IP foundation. It ensures that "China-inspired" creativity can be shared and respected on the global stage, fostering deeper international cooperation into the future.
Patrik Hammaren, president of technology standards at Nokia
A1: For global technology companies, an innovation environment's attractiveness depends on strong, predictable, consistent and transparent IP protection. China's continued efforts to strengthen IP protection in emerging technologies are creating stronger conditions for long-term, risk-taking research, global open standards contributions and cross-border collaboration.
We see clearer IP frameworks in China reflected in growing cooperation in mobile device, automotive, consumer electronics and IoT (internet of things) patent licensing. We have signed agreements with all major Chinese smartphone vendors. In 2024, we signed our first bilateral cellular technology license with a Chinese automaker and have since concluded agreements with several other Chinese automotive manufacturers. We also have agreements with Chinese automakers covering the use of our Wi-Fi technologies in their vehicles. And we have agreements covering consumer electronics from leading Chinese brands, as well as IoT point-of-sale payment devices from four leading Chinese vendors. These agreements demonstrate how robust IP systems can enable fair technology access while supporting innovation and international engagement.
A2: Strong IP protection underpins innovation-led industrial development. It ensures that sustained investment in research and standardization can be translated into widely adopted technologies. IP is essential for building ecosystems based on shared open standards, from advanced connectivity to multimedia and IoT. The licensing of standard-essential patents on FRAND (fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory) terms enables innovation to be shared efficiently across industries. It lowers barriers to entry, provides economies of scale, and is consistent with China's IP protection and utilization plans under the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) and Government Work Report. FRAND licensing enables implementers to access proven technologies and global markets while allowing innovators to reinvest in critical R&D and continued contributions to standards. This virtuous cycle fuels innovation, benefits consumers, and supports high-quality development in China and globally.
A3: Chinese authorities have put significant effort into advocating for strong IP protection and driving innovation creation in China to transform the country's economy into innovation-based growth. Predictable, consistent and transparent IP frameworks provide clearer guidance for market participants and enable companies to engage constructively through licensing and standards collaboration rather than high-profile legal disputes. This creates the confidence for Nokia, as a leading global innovator, to share its innovations with its Chinese customers through licensing programs. Recent licensing agreements concluded by Nokia with Chinese companies illustrate how effective IP systems can support negotiated outcomes and international cooperation.
As an active participant in the global innovation ecosystem, we value dialogue with Chinese authorities. We have had very positive exchanges with the Supreme People's Court on proposed judicial interpretations related to patent infringement trials and look forward to continued engagement with relevant authorities including the China National Intellectual Property Administration, the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, to support a balanced, transparent and innovation-friendly regulatory environment.
A4: Frontier technologies such as next-generation connectivity, multimedia systems, and AI-enabled platforms require sustained, global research efforts. Continued emphasis on strong IP protection helps create the policy conditions needed for such long-term investment. Nokia's research and standardization work is inherently international, and effective IP systems allow innovation to scale across markets, including China, through licensing and standards adoption. As IP frameworks mature and align with global practices, they help to create the confidence for companies to contribute foundational technologies that benefit entire ecosystems. This is particularly important for standards-based innovation, where collaboration across borders is essential.
A5: Effective IP protection with equal treatment and a level playing field is essential for a predictable and stable commercial environment. True innovation has a global impact, particularly on standardized technologies such as cellular, Wi-Fi and video, where rapid access to global markets enables scale and growth. Transparent and internationally compatible IP systems support technology exchange through standards, licensing, and collaborative research, enabling constructive engagement between innovators and implementers. Only a balanced system, in which the interests of all actors are recognized, can be sustainable. Given the long timelines — there is often a decade between R&D investment and returns — a robust legal and regulatory framework is essential to support high-risk innovation. Today, more Chinese companies are both contributors to and implementers of global standards, increasing the importance of strong IP protection as China expands its global licensing role. It is very positive that Chinese authorities have put significant effort into advocating for strong IP protection and driving innovation creation in China to transform the country's economy into innovation-based growth. This will become increasingly important as, under the 15th Five-Year Plan, China looks to shift the balance toward becoming a net licensor and increase its licensing revenues in the global markets.
Seiji Harada, director of Intellectual Property Center at Panasonic Operational Excellence China & Northeast Asia Company
A1: China's continued efforts to improve its IP protection framework in emerging sectors reflect strong strategic foresight. As one of the earliest foreign-invested companies to enter the Chinese market, Panasonic has witnessed firsthand and benefited from the steady maturation of this system. In recent years, the introduction of punitive damages, the professionalization of IP courts, and the implementation of the technical investigator system have significantly improved the efficiency of rights protection. In particular, the establishment of dedicated protection mechanisms for emerging fields such as AI ensures that the legal framework keeps pace with technological advancement. This gives us greater confidence to invest our core technologies, R&D resources and know-how in China. As a result, Panasonic has established multiple global R&D centers in the country in recent years and continues to expand its R&D investment. Currently, Panasonic employs more than 40,000 people in China, including around 10,000 in technical R&D roles. We are encouraged by China's transition from a "vast market" to an "innovation partner", and we look forward to growing alongside its innovation ecosystem.
A2: Panasonic attaches great importance to the Chinese government's strategic deployment of new quality productive forces. At its core, this concept emphasizes value innovation, which closely aligns with Panasonic's philosophy of "contributing to society and humanity through technology and wisdom". Panasonic has already rolled out strategic initiatives in China such as its Wellness Smart business and zero-carbon factories, aimed at addressing societal needs including aging populations and green transformation, while delivering solutions characterized by "new quality" attributes. The government's push for new quality productive forces provides clear direction for corporate innovation, while robust IP protection offers a secure foundation for such innovation. Investments in these areas often involve high costs, and if R&D outcomes can be easily replicated, innovation would be difficult to sustain. China's increasingly strengthened IP protection environment has reinforced Panasonic's commitment to deepening its presence in China. Through localized R&D and manufacturing focused on "new quality" development, Panasonic aims to support industrial upgrading and achieve mutual benefit and shared growth with society.
A3: In recent years, China's IP protection mechanisms have improved significantly in both efficiency and transparency. For example, the IP court system has become increasingly well-developed, case handling timelines have shortened, and compensation awards have become more reasonable. Administrative and judicial enforcement mechanisms are now better coordinated, providing more diversified channels for rights protection.
For Panasonic, these improvements have strengthened confidence in expanding technology investment and brand development in China, prompting the company to actively advance more high-value-added businesses, establish additional R&D centers and accelerate the development and application of proprietary core technologies. Meanwhile, the reduced cost of rights protection has optimized companies' IP strategy, shifting from a "defensive filing" approach toward a model that emphasizes "proactive enforcement and commercial utilization".
Overall, the improved institutional environment is providing strong support for Panasonic's long-term strategic decisions in China.
A4: China's continuously improving IP protection system is fostering a virtuous cycle that incentivizes innovation and empowers creation across the market. For Panasonic, this means that technological achievements are well protected, reducing concerns over unauthorized imitation and allowing the company to more confidently position China as a key destination for piloting cutting-edge technologies and allocating critical resources.
Leveraging China's favorable IP protection environment, Panasonic will pursue a strategy centered on "deepening localized R&D, building high-value patent portfolios, maintaining strict compliance and achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes", thereby continuously strengthening its core competitiveness in the global market.
A5: Amid intensifying global competition in innovation, China's institutionalized strengthening of IP protection is of critical importance in underpinning international cooperation and technological exchange. Without a high-standard IP protection environment, it is difficult to ensure predictable returns, enable genuine technology sharing, or sustain long-term innovation.
Panasonic is now evolving from "In China, for China" to "In China, for global". At the 2025 China International Import Expo, Panasonic unveiled its China AI strategy, actively investing in the country's AI market and exploring co-creation opportunities with Chinese partners. This confidence is rooted in China's continuously improving IP protection environment.
IP protection is not only a defensive barrier but also a catalyst for collaborative innovation. With a sound institutional framework in place, Panasonic will uphold its philosophy of "coexistence and co-prosperity", deepen collaborative innovation with Chinese partners, and leverage capabilities developed in China to contribute globally — working together toward a future of mutual benefit and shared development.
