On December 3, 2020, the Beijing Intellectual Property Court reversed a lower court decision and awarded Beijing NavInfo Technology Co., Ltd. 10 million RMB (~$1.53 million USD) in damages for a copyright dispute involving electronic maps. The appellees Beijing Qihoo Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Xiuyou Technology Co., Ltd. and Lead Space Information Technology Co., Ltd. must also pay 500,000 RMB for reasonable expenses and publish an apology.
Author: Aaron Wininger
Aaron Wininger is a Principal and Director of the China Intellectual Property at Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner.
China’s 4th Intellectual Property Law Court May Be Arriving Soon
According to a report in China’s IPRDaily.com, the 78th Chairman’s Meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) suggesting reviewing the the Supreme People’s Court‘s proposal to establish the Hainan Free Trade Port Intellectual Property Court. The review would occur at the 24th meeting of the 13th NPC Standing Committee in Beijing from December 22 to 26. If established, this would be the fourth Intellectual Property Court in China.
China National Intellectual Property Administration Closure Dates for 2021
On November 25, 2020, the State Council of the People’s Republic of China announced the holiday schedule for 2021 including for the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA). Patent deadlines are postponed to the next regular working day.
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On November 27, 2020, the China National Intellectual Property Administration released the draft implementation rules for the amended Patent Law (专利法实施细则修改建议（征求意见稿)). The draft rules cover changes required to implement the amended patent law, including patent term extension and adjustment, partial design patents, open licensing system and other areas. The draft rules also add the right to restore priority.