On October 23, 2026, four Chinese government bodies – the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the State Taxation Administration, and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) – jointly issued a notice titled “Notice on Further Preventing the Influence of Unscrupulous Intermediary Agencies on the Cultivation and Certification of High-Quality SMEs” (工信厅联企业〔2026〕40号, dated October 13, 2026). The notice addresses the involvement of third-party intermediary agencies in assisting companies with preparation of application …
Category: New Law, Rule or Implementing Regulation
China’s Ministry of Commerce Releases Draft Provisions Targeting Foreign Entities Over Trade Secret Infringement
On October 26, 2026, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) released the Special Provisions on Protecting China’s Trade Secrets (Draft for Comment) (保护中国商业秘密特别规定（征求意见稿）). Despite its title, the Draft does not address general trade secret protection. It is a sanctions-style mechanism aimed at foreign companies, organizations, and individuals: where MOFCOM determines that a foreign entity’s infringement of a Chinese trade secret endangers, or poses an actual threat to, China’s national sovereignty, security, or development interests, MOFCOM may impose trade, investment, entry, residency, …
China Issues “Opinions on Promoting the Deep Integration of Technological Innovation and Industrial Innovation,” Addressing IP Reform and AI
The General Offices of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee and the State Council issued the “Opinions on Promoting the Deep Integration of Technological Innovation and Industrial Innovation” (关于推动科技创新和产业创新深度融合的意见) on October 21, 2026, as reported by Xinhua and others. The Opinions address intellectual property reform within China’s broader strategy to convert scientific research into industrial capability, with artificial intelligence named as a priority application domain.
CNIPA and Customs Jointly Issue Opinion on Strengthening Coordinated IP Protection
China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) jointly issued the “Opinion on Strengthening Coordinated Intellectual Property Protection” (国家知识产权局 海关总署关于强化知识产权协同保护的意见) on October 14, 2026. The specific mechanisms described indicate a structured effort to reduce inconsistency between administrative infringement determinations and customs border-enforcement decisions.