On April 3, 2026, China’s National Data Administration (NDA) issued the Draft Guidelines for Data Property Registration (Trial) for Public Comment (数据产权登记工作指引（试行）》（公开征求意见稿）). These draft national Guidelines follow the limited data registration pilots in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. While the Guidelines don’t propose a new enforcement right, registered data certificates may be useful as an intangible asset that can be listed on a corporate balance sheet (thereby increasing valuation) or possible as an asset for securing a loan. Comments are due …
CNIPA Cross-Referencing Tax Records to Verify Patent Applicant Fee Reduction Eligibility
As reported by IPRlearn on March 30, 2026, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) is now cross-referencing income, tax payments, and other records when patent applicants apply for fee reductions based on income. Corporate and individual applicants are entitled to an 85% fee reduction when annual income is less than 1 million RMB (~$145 thousand) or 60 thousand RMB (~$8,700), respectively. The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office may want to consider implementing something similar to reduce false assertions of micro …
CNIPA Warns Against Using AI Agents Including OpenClaw in Drafting Patent Application Documents
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.
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation To Explore Extraterritorial Enforcement of Anti-Unfair Competition Law
On March 30, 2026, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) released the Notice on Further Implementing the Anti-Unfair Competition Law of the People’s Republic of China (市场监管总局关于进一步贯彻实施《中华人民共和国反不正当竞争法》的通知). The Anti-Unfair Competition Law is used to protect trade secrets and other unregistered intellectual property (e.g., marks, artificial intelligence models, etc.). SAMR provides administrative enforcement of laws outside of the court system. Two highlights of this recent Notice include strengthening the protection of trade secrets and exploring extraterritorial enforcement of the Anti-Unfair …