SMU School of Law Deputy Dean David Llewelyn wrote a commentary on the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. He noted that the session reiterated the importance placed by China on protecting intellectual property (IP) rights and encouraging innovation in its plans for the national economy and society. Prof Llewelyn hoped that the focus of the Third Plenum of the 18th CPC Central Committee on these areas will intensify the drive to ensure that there is quality as well as quantity in the patents submitted to and granted by State Intellectual Property Office, and that IP rights are enforced effectively across China (not just in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou).