Tribunal may be used for big expo

The establishment of a special tribunal is being considered to handle possible lawsuits and crimes connected with the highly anticipated China International Import Expo, which will be held in November in Shanghai.

Another possibility is to designate existing courts to deal with any lawsuits or crimes that may arise during the event, the Shanghai High People’s Court said on Thursday.

The court said it make a decision soon.

“A colossal number of exhibitors and organizers will attend the expo from home and abroad, and we estimate there may be disputes in infrastructure construction, exhibition preparation, goods procurement, logistics, financial services and supporting services such as catering, accommodations and tour contracts,” said Gu Quan, director of the court’s research office. Gu Quan, will

A tribunal would be one way to fast-track court procedures and safeguard the rights and interests of parties involved.”

head of the research office, Shanghai People’s High Court

“A tribunal would be one way to fast-track court procedures and safeguard the rights and interests of parties involved, as well as visitors and consumers,” he said.

According to expo organizers, industry leaders and delegates from more than 160 Fortune 500 companies have indicated a desire to participate in the exhibition. Companies from more than 120 countries and regions are expected to attend.

A mediation and litigation center will also be established within the expo venue to provide exhibitors and visitors with one-stop services, including mediation, case registration and judicial aid, the court said.

Relevant parties can also register cases and submit evidence online.

“Mediation organizations for different industries, as well as arbitration agencies, will be invited to provide more effective and fair settlements,” Gu said.

Intellectual property rights are particularly important at the exhibition, said Guo Weiqing, vice-president of the court.

“We will apply severe sanctions for violations, including piracy, plagiarizing and unfair competition, and are committed to protecting the intellectual property rights of organizers and exhibitors regarding their logos, derivatives, ideas of exhibition arrangement and goods and technologies being exhibited,” he said.

Gu said the court will also guard against criminal activities that endanger public security and order during the exhibition, such as damaging exhibition halls, disseminating false or violent information or smuggling of exhibits.