Since implementing the interim measures for the registration and evidence preservation of data products' intellectual property rights on Dec 8, Shanghai has handled 409 such applications as of April 21, local officials said.

The information was released during a news conference on April 22.

Among the applications, 289 data products received official evidence preservation, while 243 of them generated licensing revenue of about 2.07 billion yuan ($280 million). Meanwhile, 161 data products were listed on various trading venues, with a combined trading value exceeding 3.35 billion yuan, said Rui Wenbiao, head of the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration.

Efforts have been made in Shanghai to revitalize the city's 68,000 IPs in universities, research institutes and hospitals. About 43,000 have thus entered the national resource database for convertible patents. Another 130 IPs obtained recognition as IP-intensive products from China National Intellectual Property Administration, with their total industrial value exceeding 70 billion yuan, said Rui.

A total of 2,223 patent and trademark pledge financing deals were made in 2024, with the total financing value reaching 32 billion yuan, he added.

Shanghai has also stepped up IP protection in the artificial intelligence sector by improving professional support, optimizing related services and deepening frontier discussions, according to Rui.

Specifically, Shanghai formed a professional IP protection committee for AI in July, under which experts assist in patent infringement determination and consultation. Shanghai's Intellectual Patent Classification has been expanded. Qualified patents in the AI industry are granted faster approval through the fast-track pre-examination channel, said Rui.

IP protection among private enterprises has been underscored in Shanghai to facilitate their investment and sound development, according to Rui.

The 400-plus trademarks from over 300 local private enterprises have been included in the key trademark protection list. The municipal government has set up IP service centers in key investment destination countries to serve the Shanghai-based enterprises, he said.

The "sleeping patents" at universities, research institutes and hospitals are being promoted to private enterprises for transformation. New models of open source and IP sharing are being explored, added Rui.