Beijing courts have concluded 15,000 patent cases involving bottleneck technologies over the past five years, aiming to support the construction of an international scientific and technological innovation center and strengthen the protection of key core technologies, an official said.

Ren Xuefeng, vice-president of the Beijing High People's Court, announced at a news conference on Friday that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), courts across the city have significantly intensified intellectual property protection. They have imposed severe punishments and awarded punitive damages to IP infringers.

He cited data showing that in the past three years, the capital's courts applied punitive damages in 94 IP cases, with the highest awarded amount reaching 98.91 million yuan ($14.11 million).

Efforts in legal research and policy measures to support the development of the digital economy and artificial intelligence technology have been further strengthened, he noted.

Focusing on supporting high-level technological self-reliance and innovation, Beijing courts concluded several high-profile cases over the past five years, including the country's first dispute involving AI-generated images, which drew widespread domestic and international attention, he said.

"Through these rulings, judges helped clarify the legal status of AI-generated content, thereby providing strong impetus for the innovative development of emerging technologies," he added.