State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China (SIPO)

In October 2007 the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China (SIPO) and the MIPLC finalized a Memorandum of Understanding for their future cooperation. Apart from basic items such as the exchange of documentation and publications, as well as the exchange of experts, the agreement includes cooperation on IP research projects and the joint organization of conferences, seminars and workshops. Last but not least, the agreement also emphasizes SIPO annually sending Chinese students to participate in the MIPLC LL.M. program.

The Memorandum was signed by Professor Tian Lipu, SIPO Commissioner, and Professor Joseph Straus, Chair of the MIPLC Managing Board, on the occasion of the 5th Shanghai Intellectual Property Forum. The Forum was devoted this year to the theme of "The Impact of the WTO TRIPS Agreement on Economic Development of Asian Countries." It was sponsored by the SIPO and was jointly organized by the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration (SIPA), Shanghai's Tongji University, the Stanford University Law School, and the MIPLC.