On August 12, 2020, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MofCom) released the “Overall Plan for Comprehensive Deepening of the Service Trade Pilot Program” (全面深化服务贸易创新发展试点总体方案). For the first time, foreigners will be allowed to take the Chinese patent bar exam and, if passed, receive a patent agent qualification certificate. With the certificate, foreigners can work at Chinese patent agencies as well as become partners/shareholders in Chinese patent agencies.
Author: Aaron Wininger
Aaron Wininger is a Principal and Director of the China Intellectual Property at Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner.
China’s National People’s Congress Releases Second Draft of Amended Copyright Law
On August 17, 2020, China’s National People’s Congress released the Amendments to the Copyright Law (Second Deliberation Draft) (中华人民共和国著作权法修正案（草案二次审议稿)) for comment. The deadline for comments is September 30, 2020.
China’s Patent Filings Flat in July 2020 After Earlier Upsurge
The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) recently released intellectual property filing data for July 2020 showing a stabilization in patent filings after the recent upsurge. Invention patent application filings were flat compared to June 2020 at 134,188 filings while utility model applications were down slightly at 268,928 versus 276,598 filings in June 2020. However, both numbers are significantly higher than July 2019 by 13.5% for invention patent application filings and 28% for utility model application filings.
China: Top International Patent Filer – Reasons and Implications – Webinar Recording Available
In 2019, China was the top user of the Patent Cooperation Treaty, China’s domestic invention patents filings were more than double the US’ domestic filings, and China’s US patent application filings continue to increase rapidly year-on-year. Find out why and the potential implications for U.S. companies in this presentation by Aaron Wininger of Schwegman, Annie Wang of Tencent America, and Larry Lian of the USPTO. We’ll also discuss how COVID-19 has affected this trajectory in 2020. The recording is available …