China’s weak intellectual property protections and selective application of the law are hampering foreign investment in the country, the US secretary of commerce warned, in spite of a push by Beijing to reassure investors that their technology is safe.
Penny Pritzker said that although China’s drive to have an innovation economy meant China was genuine in its desire to protect IP, “the real conversation needs to be not just about the laws on the books but also about the court system and the broad and consistent application of these rules”.
IP theft has been a perennial grievance of international companies in China. In recent years Beijing has moved to reassure investors but critics say violations of rules are still rife.