Kathi Vidal (L), director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, visits Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration on April 19. [Photo/WeChat account: Shanghai_IPA]

In a significant move to bolster intellectual property rights, Kathi Vidal, director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, met with officials from the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration, or SIPA, in East China's Shanghai on April 19. 

Rui Wenbiao, director-general of SIPA, extended a warm welcome to Vidal and her delegation.

He emphasized Shanghai's commitment to IP enforcement and legal protection under the auspices of the Shanghai municipal government and the China National Intellectual Property Administration.

Rui expressed optimism that Vidal's visit would foster deeper mutual understanding and cooperation between the IP departments of the two nations.

Director Vidal conveyed her gratitude for the steadfast support provided to US companies operating in Shanghai. She reaffirmed USPTO's dedication to fostering IP cooperation with China, highlighting the importance of such international collaboration in serving the global innovation ecosystem.

The meeting also featured a discussion on Shanghai's administrative enforcement of IP laws, presented by Li Xiaomeng, chief economist of the Shanghai Municipal Administration for Market Regulation.

Additionally, a representative from the city's copyright administration shared insights into the city's copyright protection efforts.