On April 22, the Guangzhou Event of the 2025 National Intellectual Property Publicity Week and the Guangzhou Intellectual Property Achievements Exhibition launched at the Xinghai Concert Hall.

Centered around the theme of "Intellectual Property and Artificial Intelligence (AI)," the event showcased Guangzhou's pioneering efforts in the creation, protection, and utilization of intellectual property rights.

Officials from 25 foreign consulates general in Guangzhou, along with representatives from government departments, universities, research institutes, and industry leaders, participated in the event.

(Photo: Guangzhou Municipal Market Supervision and Administration Bureau)

Key achievements unveiled

During the event, it was announced that Guangzhou granted over 112,000 patents in 2024, including 72,000 high-value invention patents. The city also led Guangdong Province in software copyright registrations in AI, with more than 78,000 cases, and achieved RMB 48.82 billion in financing backed by intellectual property rights.

The event officially launched the "Intellectual Property (Patent) Strategic Map of Guangzhou's '12218' Modern Industrial System." Based on over 100,000 patent datasets, the map visualizes technological layouts and innovation trends across 15 key industrial clusters.

Additionally, the event revealed the top ten typical cases of intellectual property rights protection in Guangzhou for 2024. One notable case involved Guangzhou Customs seizing counterfeit goods destined for countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, emphasizing equitable protection for both domestic and foreign enterprises.

An intelligent robot developed by Guangzhou Ligong Industry Co., Ltd., a locally based national-level "Little Giant" enterprise focusing on precision, specialization, refinement, and innovation, made a surprise appearance and engaged in interactive activities.

(Photo: Guangzhou Municipal Market Supervision and Administration Bureau)

Emphasizing AI intellectual property protection

Søren Bindesbøll, Consul General of Denmark in Guangzhou, praised the event, stating, "This activity demonstrates how seriously the Guangzhou government takes intellectual property rights protection. It is very important to many foreign companies and increasingly so to Chinese companies."

Bindesbøll highlighted the positive feedback from Danish businesses operating in Guangdong, noting, "The companies I've spoken with are quite satisfied with the overall business conditions in Guangdong." He pointed to Denmark's strong presence in the province, with firms engaged in manufacturing, trade, and other sectors.

On the topic of artificial intelligence, Bindesbøll acknowledged Guangdong's leadership in technological advancement. "In many ways, Guangdong is at the forefront of AI and innovation." He also underscored the province's role as a hub for innovation and its commitment to nurturing an ecosystem that supports both technological progress and a robust intellectual property rights framework.

Chen Dahai, Director of the Intellectual Property Rights Division at the Guangzhou Municipal Market Supervision and Administration Bureau, stated that in the next stage, Guangzhou will focus on promoting the in-depth integration of intellectual property with AI, the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and industrial clusters.

"In the next step, we will emphasize the new business models of AI and the characteristics of its intellectual property rights," he explained. "We will address the legal issues encountered in the intellectual property rights of AI, including its creation, utilization, and protection."