China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) recently released first quarter grant data for 2024. For the first quarter, the number of invention patents granted was 251,882 , a year-on-year increase of 54.6%. The number of utility model grants was 419,451 , a year-on-year decrease of 30.1%. The number of authorized designs was 146,270 , a year-on-year decrease of 20.2%.
China’s Securities Regulatory Commission Proposes Increasing Patent Requirement for IPOs
On April 12, 2024 China’s Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) proposed increasing the required number of patents to list on the Shanghai Stock Exchange Science and Technology Innovation Board (somewhat analogous to NASDAQ). Specifically, the CSRC released the Guidelines for the Evaluation of Science and Technology Innovation Attributes (Trial) (科创属性评价指引(试行)) for commenting raising the number of patents related to the company’s main business to 7 from 5.
France’s Arkema S.A. Sues Shanghai Huayi Group Co., Ltd. for 430 Million RMB Patent Infringement
Per a filing with the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) on April 2, 2024, France’s Arkema S.A. sued two subsidiaries of Shanghai Huayi Group Co., Ltd. for patent infringement requesting 430 million RMB and an injunction. Arkema filed the patent litigation at the Shanghai Higher People’s Court alleging the subsidiaries infringed Chinese patents 200780034079.8 and 201210384253.4 related to processes for producing acrylic acid.
China’s National Intellectual Property Administration Joins the Patent Prosecution Highway Improvement Initiative in Cooperation with the IP5
China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) announced on April 11, 2024 that it will join the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Improvement Initiative (PPH改进倡议) in cooperation with the IP5 (China, the United States, Europe, Japan and South Korea). The Initiative’s goal is to provide a more predictable examination cycle. Accordingly, CNIPA will aim for an average time to issuance of a first office action from grant of a PPH request at 3 months. Similarly, CNIPA will aim for an average time …