Australia appoints intellectual property Counsellor in China

The Australian government announced plans on Friday to appoint an intellectual property (IP) Counsellor in China.

Australian assistant innovation minister Wyatt Roy said the move to appoint David Bennett into the role would help support Australian businesses seeking to export to China.

"Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull foreshadowed this new post recently when he visited China as part of its Australia Week celebrations," Roy said.

"The Australian government recognises that China is one of the largest and fastest growing markets for Australian businesses exporting overseas."

He noted the counsellor would provide expert guidance on protecting and enforcing IP in China in order to benefit the IP owner as well as give confidence to Chinese manufacturers and consumers about the value of innovative Australian products.

General Partner at Full Circle Venture Capital Rowan Grant told Xinhua on Friday he welcomed the move by the Australian government.

"It's rather difficult (for Australian companies entering the Chinese marketplace) to protect their IP, given the vastly different regulatory environment," Grant said.

"They're finding it difficult understand the rules."

He noted any advice on local insights for entry into China regarding IP would be very useful.

IP Counsellor David Bennett is expected to begin in the Beijing-based role by the end of 2016. Endit