On March 31, 2026, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) issued a warning against using AI agents, such an OpenClaw, in drafting patent application documents (关于使用OpenClaw等智能体撰写专利申请文件的风险提示). Further, unauthorized use by patent agencies should be reported. CNIPA says using agents may lead to technical information leakage, substantial defects including AI hallucinations, and dishonest (bad faith) applications.
Category: Patents
CNIPA March 2026 Press Conference: CNIPA Joining with Ministry of Public Security in Patent Agency Rectification Campaign
In late 2025, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) joined forces with the Ministry of Public Security and the State Administration for Market Regulation to launch a rectification campaign targeting illegal and irregular practices across the patent and trademark agency industry. At a March 23, 2026 press conference, CNIPA Deputy Director Hu Wenhui outlined the campaign’s results after its first three months.
CNIPA Releases Draft Amendments to the Measures for the Administration of Patent Priority Examination
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.
CNIPA Releases Work Report of the 2026 Directors’ Conference – Intensify Crackdown on Patent Applications that Violate Good Faith and Malicious Trademark Squatting
On January 7, 2026, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released the Excerpt from the Work Report at the 2026 National Intellectual Property Office Directors’ Conference (2026年全国知识产权局局长会议工作报告（摘编）). The Excerpt details IP achievements made during the 14th Five-Year Plan (running from 2021-2025) and lists key key tasks for 2026 including improving examination quality, conducting a rectification campaign of the IP agency industry and intensifying efforts to address patent application behavior that violates the principle of good faith and malicious trademark squatting.