China’s National Copyright Administration has released its Copyright Work Plan for the 15th Five-Year period (2026-2030) (版权工作“十五五”规划), outlining regulatory priorities that include a stated intent to develop new rules for artificial intelligence. The plan, issued in August 2026, positions AI-related copyright issues as an area requiring future rulemaking rather than treating existing law as sufficient.
China’s Supreme People’s Court Issues First National Judicial Rules on AI Disputes — But Sidesteps Copyrightability of AI-Generated Works
On September 7, 2026, the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China released the Opinions of the Supreme People’s Court on the Trial of Cases Involving Artificial Intelligence Disputes (最高人民法院关于依法审理涉人工智能纠纷案件的意见). The Opinions comprise five parts and 24 articles and are the first set of judicial adjudication rules concerning artificial intelligence issued by China’s highest judicial body. They are framed as guidance for lower courts applying existing law – the Civil Code, Cybersecurity Law, Data Security Law, Copyright Law, …
China’s Supreme People’s Procuratorate Releases Five Typical Cases on Technical Support in IP Case Handling
On September 2, 2026, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) publicly released five typical cases illustrating technical support in intellectual property procuratorial case handling. These cases were jointly compiled by the SPP’s Intellectual Property Procuratorial Department and the Procuratorial Technology and Information Research Center, reflecting recent efforts by procuratorial organs to adapt to the specialized and technical nature of intellectual property cases. The cases span both criminal and civil procuratorial functions, addressing technical issues including patent infringement determination, non-public-knowledge determination for …
China’s Anhui Provincial Administration for Market Regulation Issues Record $2.5 Million USD Fine for Unauthorized Practice of Patent Law
In an administrative penalty decision dated August 10, 2026, China’s Anhui Provincial Administration for Market Regulation (geoblocked) issued what is believed to be the highest fine ever for the unauthorized practice of patent law – 17,081,860.09 RMB (over $2.5 million USD). This fine was part of a series of fines against Anhui patent agencies issued in August 2026 including another fine of 9,673,112.3 RMB. Previously, the highest fine is believed to be 2.49 million RMB.