On January 8, 2026, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released the Guidelines on Trademark Registration for Industrial Cluster Brands and Regional Brands (关于产业集群品牌和区域品牌申请注册商标的指引). The Guidelines explain acceptable use of place names for collective trademarks and certification trademarks. Generally, place names of administrative divisions at or above the county level cannot be used as trademarks.
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.
CNIPA Revokes Four Chinese Patent Firms’ Licenses for Fabricating Applicants Using Stolen Personal Data
On January 4, 2026, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) announced it had revoked 4 Chinese patent firms’ licenses for filing ‘irregular’ patent applications using fabricated patent applicants based on stolen personal data. The firms in question had purchased stolen personal data from a Xu XX, who had been sentenced to 3.5 years in prison in May 2025. Xu XX illegally purchased personal information of enterprises and citizens, and used this information to register accounts in the CNIPA’s patent business …
CNIPA and MIIT to Focus on Strengthening IP Protection in the Photovoltaic Industry
On December 31, 2025, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released the Opinions on Further Strengthening Intellectual Property Protection in the Photovoltaic Industry (国家知识产权局 工业和信息化部关于进一步加强光伏产业知识产权保护工作的意见). The Opinions specify 11 key tasks: promote high-quality patent filing; improve the efficiency of patent pre-examination and examination; strengthen Intellectual Property risk monitoring and early warning; strengthen the efficient handling of administrative adjudication of disputes; strengthen collaborative protection of Intellectual Property Rights; strengthen the regulation of intellectual …