On July 16, 2025, China’s Ministry of Public Security (PSB) announced the release of the “Opinions on Combatting Intellectual Property Crimes in Accordance with the Law to Serve High-Quality Development” (关于依法打击知识产权犯罪服务高质量发展的意见) although no copy appears to be publicly available. Simultaneously, the PSB also released “Five Typical Cases of Public Security Organs Combatting Intellectual Property Crimes in Accordance with the Law to Serve High-Quality Development” (公安机关依法打击知识产权犯罪服务高质量发展的5起典型案例) including an economic espionage case involving an unnamed foreign country.
Category: Case
Nintendo Only Awarded 200,000 RMB in Copyright Infringement Case Despite 500,000+ Infringing Game Consoles Sold
On July 8, 2025, the Jiangsu High Court announced a verdict in favor of Nintendo against an unnamed defendant in a copyright infringement case. The defendant sold over 500,000 “Single-Player Red and Blue” retro game consoles priced at 78 RMB with 14 pre-installed infringing games (out of 500 games) and another 10,000+ “Premium Octagonal Gift Box” game consoles priced at 178 RMB with 16 pre-installed infringing games (out of 500 games). The Court award Nintendo 200,000 RMB (about $28,000 USD) …
Supreme People’s Court Fines Patentee for Failure to Report Amendment of Claims During Invalidation to Trial Court
In decision (2023)最高法知民终1295号 released on July 3, 2025, China’s Supreme People’s Court (SPC) held that failure to notify a People’s Court (trial court) of a claim amendment made during an invalidation proceeding is subject to a fine. The SPC also reversed the People’s Court’s judgement of infringement based on the amendments made during the invalidation proceeding. Accordingly, a 100,000 RMB win at the first instance turned into a 150,000 RMB loss at the second instance.
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation Announces 7 Typical Cases of Trademark Administrative Enforcement for 2024
On June 10, 2025, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) announced the 7 Typical Cases of Trademark Administrative Enforcement for 2024 (市场监管总局公布7件商标行政执法典型案例). Administrative enforcement provides an alternative route to IP litigation and criminal prosecution but does not provide damages. Note that administrative enforcement is not mutually exclusive to litigation and criminal prosecution – all three mechanisms may be used and administrative enforcement cases are regularly referred for criminal prosecution. Regarding the cases, SAMR explained that “in 2024, local market …