Takeaway: China is addressing concerns about lax enforcement of intellectual property rights by seizing over 7 million items suspected of IP infringement.

Enforcing your intellectual property rights against Chinese entities is notoriously difficult, but an improving relationship between China and the World Trade Organization may change that.

According to China’s state-run news agency, China’s General Administration of Customs seized over 7 million items suspected of IP infringement in the first half of 2018.

In a recent report, the agency claims that this high volume of seizures demonstrates China’s seriousness towards addressing concerns regarding its purportedly lax enforcement of intellectual property rights.

This report seemingly responds to recent allegations from the United States of China’s “abusive practices with regard to intellectual property.”

In sum, stronger enforcement practices adopted by Chinese customs may offer the opportunity to enforce your intellectual property rights by registering your IP with China’s General Administration of Customs. Read more at their website here.