China received 268,926 patent applications in the first six months of 2007, up 7.3 percent from the corresponding period last year, according to China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

These patent applications involved inventions, utility models and designs, according to the CCPIT.

According to official statistics, China's patent applications had exceeded 3 million by the end of June, 2006.

China had received more than 4.98 million applications for registering trade marks by the end of 2006, with the number of registered trade marks exceeding 2.77 million.

Currently, China has more than 600 patent agent organizations. The Patent and Trademark Law Office under the CCPIT remains the largest agency authorized to manage overseas-related intellectual property.

(Xinhua News Agency October 7, 2007)