On April 22, Jianghan University hosted the opening ceremony of the “4·26” World Intellectual Property Publicity Week Campaign and the thematic seminar titled “Collaboration · Intellectual Property · Legal Awareness: Protection and Value Symbiosis of Intellectual Property in the Digital Age.” The event was held at Bingling Hall, Science and Technology Innovation Building.
Guided by the Hubei Intellectual Property Bureau, Wuhan Intellectual Property Bureau, and Wuhan Association for Science and Technology, and hosted by Jianghan University, the event was organized by the Hubei Intellectual Property Training (Wuhan) Base and the School of Law at Jianghan University. Attending and delivering speeches at the opening ceremony were Vice President of Jianghan University Xiang Yue, Vice Chairman of the Wuhan Association for Science and Technology Zhang Ruoguang, and Deputy Director of the Promotion Division of the Wuhan Intellectual Property Office Shen Shimin, among others.
Over 100 participants attended the event, including representatives from the People’s Court of Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone, Jiang'an District People’s Court, Jiang’an District People’s Procuratorate, Caidian District Law Society, Jiangxia District Market Supervision and Administration Bureau (Intellectual Property Office), Tongcheng County People’s Government, as well as representatives from universities, law firms, enterprises, and members of Jianghan University's faculty, staff, alumni, and students. The ceremony was chaired by Ye Bing, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Law at Jianghan University.
In her welcome address, Xiang Yue emphasized that universities are a driving force for the high-quality creation of intellectual property (IP), a hub for the effective utilization of IP, and a talent pool for comprehensive IP protection. She noted that new technologies and concepts emerging from Jianghan University are continuously empowering Wuhan’s industrial value chains. Relying on the Hubei Intellectual Property Training (Wuhan) Base established at the university, Jianghan is playing an increasingly vital role in supporting scientific and technological innovation at both the university and local levels, promoting IP cultivation, transformation, protection, and nurturing top-tier IP professionals.
She further stated that the university will continue to foster the sharing of key platforms and disciplinary resources across departments and institutions. With the “sincerity of collaboration to unite innovative efforts, the key of Intellectual Property to unlock new value, and the shield of Legal Awareness to protect intellectual achievements, the university aims to compose a new chapter in the digital era where protection and sharing complement each other, and innovation and development flourish together.”
In his address, Zhang Ruoguang praised Jianghan University for its significant contribution to Hubei Province’s and Wuhan City’s IP development strategies. He stated that the Wuhan Association for Science and Technology has consistently viewed IP work as a crucial means of supporting the scientific community. The association continues to enhance public IP awareness, optimize its service systems, and provide comprehensive IP services to researchers. He expressed a desire to collaborate with Jianghan University and professionals in the IP field to promote innovation and the transformation of scientific achievements, thereby maximizing intellectual resources.
Shen Shimin noted that the Wuhan Intellectual Property Bureau will continue to increase its support for Jianghan University, especially in cultivating high-value patents and enhancing patent transformation and application, to elevate the university’s IP efforts to new heights.
Following the opening ceremony, experts and scholars from Central China Normal University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan Institute of Technology, and Jianghan University as well as practicing lawyers, corporate representatives, and alumni engaged in in-depth discussions on the theme “Collaboration · Intellectual Property · Legal Awareness: Protection and Value Symbiosis of Intellectual Property in the Digital Age.”
The keynote speech session was hosted and commented on by Professor Zhao Lixin, Dean of the Law School at Jianghan University. Speakers included Professor Liu Hua, Director of the Institute of Intellectual Property at Central China Normal University and Chairman of the Wuhan Intellectual Property Research Association; Zeng Qun, Vice President of the People’s Court of the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone; Zhou Jiaqi, Deputy Director of Hubei Winning Law Firm and alumnus of Jianghan University’s Law School; Lu Xunyao, Partner at Hubei Minne Law Firm and also an alumnus of the university’s Law School; and Peng Xiaojuan, Associate Professor at Jianghan University’s Law School. Their discussions covered intellectual property culture, legal disputes concerning generative artificial intelligence, and hot-button issues in IP trials and litigation.
The forum was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, Fang Xiao, Partner at Shanghai Junyue Law Firm, proposed a legal framework for building trusted data spaces to support compliance in data circulation. Qu Haohui, a lecturer from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, addressed the risks associated with AI technologies, emphasized the need for IP systems to dynamically adapt to technological advancements and reflecting the necessity of flexible institutional design. Prosecutor Wang Zhao of the Jiang’an District People’s Procuratorate used practical cases to analyze pain points and opportunities for improvement in criminal IP cases with associated civil litigation, showcasing how judicial practice supports innovation. Jianghan University’s faculty member Yue Jingkai presented empirical research revealing a correlation between IP protection and regional innovation capability, providing data-based support for policymaking.
The second stage focused on the transformation and application of intellectual property. Luo Yan, Associate Professor at Wuhan Institute of Technology, explored ways to optimize geographical indication legislation based on case studies from Hubei Province. Yang Wei of Huazhong University of Science and Technology used cross-national data to illustrate global disparities and trends in patent protection intensity. Li Hang, Managing Partner at Hubei Youyu Yi Law Firm and an alumnus of Jianghan University’s Law School, offered forward-looking and practical strategies for managing digital copyright risks from a corporate compliance perspective. Yang Ming, General Manager of the Hubei Advanced Fiber Materials Comprehensive Technology Innovation Platform, shared innovative models for patent commercialization grounded in industrial practice, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among academia, industry, and research institutions. Zhang Haoran, a graduate student from the university’s Law School, examined compliance strategies for standard Chinese drug enterprises in international litigation by analyzing the pharmaceutical patent linkage system.
In his closing remarks, Attorney Zhou Jiaqi noted that the seminar successfully addressed the emerging IP disputes and challenges brought about by new technologies and business models in the digital age. Through interdisciplinary dialogue among academia, legal professionals, and industry, the seminar covered cutting-edge issues and multifaceted legal perspectives, offering fresh insights and practical reference points for IP protection and governance in the digital age.
Intellectual Property Publicity Week is a key annual event in the IP field and an important initiative to strengthen the cultural foundation of intellectual property development. This year, leveraging the Hubei Intellectual Property Training (Wuhan) Base, our university collaborated with various provincial, municipal, and district-level departments to meticulously plan a diverse series of themed activities. These include policy briefings, achievement exhibitions, academic seminars, and legal consultations offering a multidimensional and multifaceted approach. The goal is to foster a campus and societal atmosphere that values knowledge, respects innovation, and upholds integrity and the rule of law, while also enhancing public awareness and governance capacity in intellectual property.
