Senior Chinese official urges harsher punishments for IPR violations

QINGDAO, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan has urged government departments to focus on computer software development and other key areas in the "arduous and long-term" fight against copyright infringement.

Wang made the remarks on Friday in eastern China's Shandong Province during a meeting concerning a national crackdown on intellectual property rights infringements and the production and distribution of counterfeit goods.

Since the campaign was launched five months ago, the country has dealt with more than 100,000 cases involving IPR infringement.

One "especially major" case, as specified by the Ministry of Public Security earlier this month, dated back to 2008. It involved two Shanghai-based production sites distributing more than 1,500 types of pirated operating system software, including Windows XP and Windows 7.

The two sites were destroyed in March following a three-month investigation, according to the ministry.

While praising the results so far, Wang ordered government departments across the country to continue their efforts by focusing on key markets and fields, such as online commerce, agricultural products, food and pharmaceudicals.

"Harsher criminal and economic punishments should be imposed in order to truly intimidate violators," Wang said.

Wang also urged government departments to purchase and use legitimate computer software.