News from the Patent Office of China

Use of Legitimate Software Ensured in China's Central Gov't
The Chinese government will ensure that all computer software used by its 135 central government agencies is authorized and legitimate by the end of May, the National Copyright Administration (NCA) said Thursday.
Central government agencies spent a total of 140.91 million yuan (or 21.73 million U.S. dollars) to purchase 176,763 legitimate software packages between late October last year and the end of May this year, the NCA said in a statement.
The purchases included 24.88 million yuan for 66,511 domestically produced software packages and 116.03 million yuan for 110,252 software packages produced by foreign companies.
The NCA said a long-term mechanism has also been established to ensure that only legitimate software will be used by central government agencies.
This development has demonstrated China's resolution to protect intellectual property rights, the statement added.
The State Council, or China's cabinet, issued a regulation in October 2010 that stated that central government agencies must switch to using completely legitimate software by the end of May this year. The regulation also said that local government bodies must do the same by the end of October this year.

Samsung Asks to See New iPhone, iPad in Patent Battle with Apple
Samsung Electronics has required a U.S. federal judge to make Apple Inc provide its next-generation models of the iPhone and iPad to the the Korean electronics giant in the latest round of patent infringement battle, according to media reports Tuesday.
Samsung asked U.S. District Court Judge Koh to force Apple to give it "a sample of the final, commercial version of the next generation iPhone that Apple will release, whether that product will be known as the 'iPhone 4S,' 'iPhone 5,' or some other name," said to a motion filed in a California federal court.
Samsung's move followed Apple's patent infringement lawsuit filed last month claiming Samsung's Galaxy line of mobile phones and tablets feature similar characteristics to iPhone and iPad.
Earlier this month, Koh demanded Samsung to deliver samples, specifications and marketing materials for its forthcoming Galaxy tablet to Apple.
"It would put Samsung at a significant disadvantage in this litigation if the Court allowed Apple access to Samsung's future products ... but prevented Samsung from gaining access to Apple's future products so that it could prepare its defense," Samsung argued.
Apple could not be immediately reached for comment while Samsung declined to comment.
Samsung, whose Galaxy products use Google's Android operating system, directly competing with Apple's mobile software.
As one of the fastest-growing smartphone makers, Samsung emerged as Apple's strongest competitor in the booming tablet market.