The 2007 AmCham China Business Climate Survey said that 44.2 percent of the US companies operating in China that responded to the poll said the situation regarding IPR infringements had improved. A majority 48.1 percent said it had stayed the same and 7.7 percent said it had deteriorated.

For those companies with experience of public security enforcement on IPR cases, 51 percent said it had improved, 47 percent said it had stayed the same and 2 percent said it had deteriorated.

For those with experience of Chinese customs enforcement on IPR, 43 percent indicated it had improved and 57 percent said it had stayed the same.

The survey was carried out by the American Chamber of Commerce in China, which represents more than 1,000 US companies here.

It said: "Over the past year, evidence has continued to mount that the Chinese Government is serious in its intention to bring IPR protection order to the Chinese market."

Various legal initiatives were advanced over the past year, such as a string of new legislation and revisions of existing laws on online copyright protection, royalty levies, patents and trademarks.

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