The State Council, China's cabinet, said Wednesday that penalties for IPR infringement will be increased to lower the cost of safeguarding such rights.

IPR protection will be improved by internet tracing of sources, real-time monitoring and online identification of infringements, according to a statement following an executive meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang.

Punitive fines will be imposed on IPR infringement and new, low cost ways of safeguarding IPR must be found, the statement said.

China will take severe action against a batch of IPR infringement and counterfeiting cases to make law breakers aware of the heavy price they must pay and to improve the business environment, it said.