A group of companies and industry associations set up Tuesday a forum to tackle what they see as increasing overseas infringement of intellectual property rights, especially in Asia.
The 141-member International Intellectual Property Protection Forum aims to strengthen efforts by private companies and work closely with the government to cope with pirated products, an official of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said.
Starting in May, the forum will conduct research on countries where the practice is seen to be increasing and compile proposals to improve legal and enforcement systems in those countries, the official said.
The group plans to send a fact-finding mission to China in the fall. The trip will be made jointly with the government, which holds observer status in the forum.
The government plans to reflect the voice of the forum in future bilateral and multilateral negotiations over the issue, according to the official.