On January 18, 2022, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released the Measures for Rapid Examination of Trademark Applications (for Trial Implementation) (商标注册申请快速审查办法（试行)) that provides for examination of certain trademark applications within 20 days of approval of a request to participate. The Measures are effective immediately.
Author: Aaron Wininger
Aaron Wininger is a Senior Attorney and Director of China Intellectual Property at Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner.
Foreign Patent Firms Can Now Open Representative Offices in China
The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released the Administrative Measures for the Establishment of Resident Representative Offices in China by Foreign Patent Agencies (外国专利代理机构在华设立常驻代表机构管理办法) on January 11, 2022 allowing foreign patent firms to open representative offices in China effective immediately. However, foreign patent firms’ representative offices will not be able to prosecute Chinese patent applications.
Shanghai’s No. 3 Intermediate Court Sentences DuPont Counterfeiter to 2+ Years in Prison
On January 6, 2022 the Shanghai No. 3 Intermediate People’s Court (上海第三中院) sentenced defendant Zhang XX for counterfeiting DuPont’s registered trademarks for pesticides and related products and was sentenced to two years and two months in prison and a fine of RMB 220,000. Further illegal gains and property was confiscated.
Chinese Invention Patent and Utility Model Grants Both Up 31% in 2021
At the National Meeting of Directors of Intellectual Property Offices held on January 6, 2022, China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) Director Shen Changyu released some initial data on 2021 intellectual property grants. Specifically, In 2021, the quantity and quality of intellectual property development indicators have both increased. In terms of creativity, 696,000 invention patents, 3.120 million utility models, and 786,000 designs were authorized, and the number of high-value invention patents per 10,000 people in my country (excluding Hong Kong, …