On February 26, 2026, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released the Draft Amendments to the Measures for the Administration of Patent Priority Examination for comment (专利优先审查管理办法修改草案（征求意见稿)). However, despite Article 3 of Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights requiring national treatment, the Draft does not rectify the earlier version to provide a mechanism for foreigners to request priority examination.
Category: New Law, Rule or Implementing Regulation
CNIPA and MIIT to Focus on Strengthening IP Protection in the Photovoltaic Industry
On December 31, 2025, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released the Opinions on Further Strengthening Intellectual Property Protection in the Photovoltaic Industry (国家知识产权局 工业和信息化部关于进一步加强光伏产业知识产权保护工作的意见). The Opinions specify 11 key tasks: promote high-quality patent filing; improve the efficiency of patent pre-examination and examination; strengthen Intellectual Property risk monitoring and early warning; strengthen the efficient handling of administrative adjudication of disputes; strengthen collaborative protection of Intellectual Property Rights; strengthen the regulation of intellectual …
China’s National People’s Congress Releases Foreign Trade Law With IP Chapter – Launching a Chinese ITC?
On December 27, 2025, China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) released the Foreign Trade Law of the People’s Republic of China (中华人民共和国对外贸易法) effective March 1, 2026. The Foreign Trade Law includes a chapter on intellectual property (IP) introducing trade sanctions for IP infringement based when it endangers the order of foreign trade and also targets specific IP licensing practices such as standard validity challenge clauses and portfolio license bundling. Further, the Law allows retaliation if China’s IP is not protected adequately …
China’s National People’s Congress Releases Draft of the Amended Trademark Law for Comment
On December 27, 2025, China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) released a draft of the Amended Trademark Law for Comment (中华人民共和国商标法（修订草案）). Some initial thoughts: A dedicated chapter has been added to consolidate and refine the previously scattered trademark registration conditions. The use of the name, flag, emblem, and medals of the Communist Party of China as trademarks is explicitly prohibited. The draft now allow “dynamic symbols” to be registered as trademarks, but color combinations, sounds, and dynamic effects that arise solely …