The World Intellectual Property Organization Arbitration and Mediation Shanghai Service (WIPO Shanghai Service) recently rendered its first arbitration ruling in an international intellectual property dispute.

The ruling, which involved a foreign applicant and a Chinese respondent, was promptly and voluntarily executed by both parties, marking a significant milestone for the service, according to a report by Jiefang Daily.

The two companies agreed to fast-track arbitration at the WIPO Shanghai Service. They chose Shanghai as the arbitration venue, conducted proceedings in Chinese, and applied Chinese law. A Chinese expert was appointed as the sole arbitrator, reflecting both parties' trust in the WIPO Shanghai Service and the favorable IP environment in China.

Established in 2019 in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the WIPO Shanghai Service is the first international arbitration institution approved by the Chinese Ministry of Justice for foreign-related IP disputes. It aims to position Shanghai as a global arbitration hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

Lyu Guoqiang, head of the WIPO Shanghai Service, highlighted the service's role in ensuring effective and efficient arbitration. The case was resolved in under two months, demonstrating the service's efficiency. He expressed hope that this inaugural case would attract more international parties to Shanghai.

The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, which set up the Shanghai Service, is a neutral non-profit dispute resolution institution that offers a range of cost-effective means for resolving IP and technology disputes globally.

With growing international business exchanges, the WIPO Shanghai Service has mediated over 120 court-referred cases with a 35 percent success rate. It has engaged parties from 16 countries like Finland, Switzerland, and the United States.