A Chicago law school Tuesday opened its Chinese Intellectual Property Resource Center, the first of its kind in the United States, aiming at promoting bilateral exchanges in the IP field.

The John Marshall Law School has played a noticeable role in promoting study and understanding of Chinese intellectual property law by sending American students to China and educating Chinese students here.

"The John Marshall Law School and the Chinese intellectual property community, particularly the State Intellectual Property Office of China (SIPO), have enjoyed many years of successful cooperation," said Dorothy In-Lan Wang Li, co-director of the Asian Alliances Program at the John Marshall Law School.

"The Resource Center will provide a unique stage for IP dialogue between the U.S. and China in the years to come," he added.

Sharon Barner, former deputy director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office who has extensive experience in dealing with China's IP regulations, told Xinhua, "The establishment of the Resource Center is critical."

"It bridges the cultural and geographic gap between China and the U.S. Companies and students should all take advantage of the resources," Barner added.

A delegation of six people headed by Gan Shaoning, Deputy Commissioner of SIPO, attended the opening celebration.

"Over the past 17 years, we have sent a total of 170 students to the John Marshall Law School for extended period of studies. Ninety of them have obtained their law degrees," Gan told Xinhua.

"This center will provide a platform for American students and IP practitioners to learn more about Chinese intellectual property law. It'll help enhancing the mutual understanding and communication between the two countries," he said.

Professor Wen Xikai, a member of the Chinese delegation, gave a lecture on the implications of the third amendment to China's Patent Law that became effective on Oct. 1, 2009.

She also briefed the audience of nearly 100 students, faculty and IP attorneys from Chicago, providing them with the background of the three amendments implemented respectively in 1992, 2000 and 2008.

"I'm quite excited about the resources at the Center," said Jianchen Lu, a junior student at John Marshall Law School. "I'm looking forward to do research at the Center and be able to find materials both in English and Chinese in one place."

The John Marshall Law School started working with China's law schools and government agencies in 1994.

Today it not only accepts 10 Chinese students each year from SIPO for long-term studies, but receives many short-term students and scholars from China.

Over the past four years, the Law School has been running a "summer program." Twenty or so American students have the opportunity to study in China for a month. This year's program focused on the growing role of China in intellectual property law.

The John Marshall Law School, located in downtown Chicago and founded in 1899, is a private school with nearly 1,500 students.

(Xinhua News Agency August 26, 2011)