Not just profit

For many years, China has ranked No 1 in the world in terms of applications for patents, trademarks and industrial designs.

However, some parents have mistakenly used IP as a means for their children to earn extra points in the fierce competition to enter top schools.

According to a member of staff at the National Intellectual Property Administration, a father working in a scientific research institution made an invention for his child and applied for a patent ahead of the school entry examinations. Once the child had enrolled at a leading high school, the family abandoned the application, because it was "useless".

In March, the Ministry of Education stipulated that patents will no longer be used as score items for university enrollment.

The policy will not dampen the students' enthusiasm, said Gao Ying, a teacher at Beijing No 8 Middle School. "It will ask children to focus more on innovation, rather than 'added value'."