China is taking, and will continue to take, effective action against intellectual property right (IPR) violations, the Ministry of Commerce said yesterday.

Chong Quan, spokesman for the ministry, made the remarks at a news briefing in response to reports that the United States, Japan and the European Union are planning to take legal action at the World Trade Organization over China's IPR situation.

He noted that some countries still have doubts over China's efforts at protecting IPRs, attributing it to a lack of understanding about ground realities in China.

The government has always attached great importance to IPR protection, he said.

Ma Lihai, a press official with the National Copyright Administration, said it has always been the policy of the government to fight against piracy and encourage innovation.

"We are doing this not because of external pressure but out of consideration for our own development," he said.

More than 300 Internet IPR infringement cases are being investigated in a campaign launched this week targeting Internet piracy.

(China Daily November 3, 2006)