BEIJING, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- China will set up special courts for intellectual property rights (IPR) cases in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, the top legislature has decided.

Members of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress adopted the resolution through a vote at the bi-monthly legislative session that closed here Sunday.

The courts will focus largely on civil and administrative lawsuits regarding patents, new plant varieties, integrated circuit layout designs and technological knowledge.

In a report to legislators about the draft this week, Zhou Qiang, president of the Supreme People's Court, said IPR cases play an important part in advancing the country's technical innovation and economic development, and they require more skilled judges and more professional trials.

The IPR courts will also handle appellate cases regarding other IPR-related matters, such as copyright and trademark disputes, in these three cities.

Appeals against the verdicts of the IPR courts will be heard in local higher people's courts. Presidents, vice presidents and chief judges of these courts will be appointed by local legislatures.

In the report, Zhou also said procedural rules, evidence rules and litigation preservation measures will be improved to provide better IPR protection, and the courts will establish a professional forensic investigation system to determine technical facts.