China is turbocharging its digital economy with groundbreaking protections for data as intellectual property (IP), revealed at the 14th China Intellectual Property Annual Conference in Beijing. With a theme straight out of a tech thriller – 'IP in the Digital Age' – the event drew 8,000+ innovators, scholars, and global leaders to discuss everything from AI ethics to cross-border IP battles. 🚀
Data: The New Gold Rush
China produced a staggering 41.06 zettabytes of data in 2024 – enough to store 13 million Ne Zha 2-level animated films! 📀 This accounts for 26.67% of global data output, fueling a digital economy that now makes up over 10% of China's GDP. 💰
Protecting the Future
'We're building an IP system fit for the AI era,' declared Hu Wenhui of China's National Intellectual Property Administration. The plan? Clear rules for protecting legally processed data sets that show 'practical value and intellectual achievement' – think of it as a copyright stamp for datasets. 🔒
Startups to Supercharged Markets
Since 2021, pilot programs in 17 regions have processed 58,000 data IP applications. Over 90% came from businesses, with info tech, manufacturing, and retail sectors leading the charge. 💼 The result? Data IP financing has smashed through 10 billion yuan ($1.4B), proving innovation pays – literally. 📊
As Liang Xinxin from the IP Administration noted: 'Data now drives 83 of 97 major economic sectors. This isn't just about storage – it's about shaping tomorrow's industries.' 🌟
