On December 24, 2025, China’s Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released the Guiding Opinions on Strengthening Arbitration Work in Intellectual Property Disputes (关于加强知识产权纠纷仲裁工作的指导意见). The Guiding Opinions are encouraging Chinese arbitration institutions to handle international arbitration cases. A translation follows. The original text is available here (Chinese only).
Category: New Law, Rule or Implementing Regulation
China’s Supreme People’s Court Releases RFC for Draft Interpretation (III) on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Patent Infringement Disputes
On December 20, 2025, China’s Supreme People’s Court (SPC) released the Draft Interpretation (III) on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Patent Infringement Disputes (最高人民法院关于审理侵犯专利权纠纷案件应用法律若干问题的解释（三)) for comment. The Interpretation contains 31 articles covering issues such as jurisdiction, standing to sue, interpretation of claims, infringement comparison, defense of non-infringement, change of circumstances, malicious litigation, and compensation. Some highlights include: Article 3 – no forum shopping by shipping to a favorable jurisdiction. Article 4 – litigation can …
China’s National Intellectual Property Administration, Ministry of Public Security, and State Administration for Market Regulation Jointly Launch Rectification Campaign on IP Firms & Practitioners
On November 25, 2025, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration announced a joint rectification campaign in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Security and State Administration for Market Regulation. The campaign will last three months and “seriously illegal agencies and practitioners will be investigated and punished strictly according to law, ordered to rectify irregular practices, and typical cases of illegal agency practices will be publicly exposed to quickly create a deterrent effect.”
China’s National Intellectual Property Administration Releases Revised Guidelines for Patent Examination Effective January 1, 2026
On November 13, 2025, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released the Decision of the CNIPA on Revising the Guidelines for Patent Examination (国家知识产权局关于修改《专利审查指南》的决定). The Decision, effective January 1, 2026, revises the Guidelines, which are roughly analogous to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office’s (USPTO) Manual for Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP). The revisions clarify the relationship between patent protection and the new plant variety protection; provides examples of rejections based on social, public interest in illegality rationales; provides examples for …