On August 3, 2026, China published the revised Regulations on the Protection of Layout Designs of Integrated Circuits (集成电路布图设计保护条例). The revised text was adopted at the 91st executive meeting of the State Council on July 10, 2026 and promulgated on July 23, 2026. It takes effect on October 15, 2026, per Article 54 of the Regulations. This is the first systematic revision of the Regulations since 2001.
Category: New Law, Rule or Implementing Regulation
China’s State Council Releases 15th Five-Year Plan for Intellectual Property Protection and Utilization
On July 31, 2026, China’s State Council released the 15th Five-Year Plan for Intellectual Property Protection and Utilization (知识产权保护和运用“十五五”规划). Per the Plan, China will revise the implementing rules of the Regulations on the Protection of New Plant Varieties, improve the system for the protection of trade secrets, improve the anti-monopoly system in the field of intellectual property, and revise the Customs Protection Regulations on Intellectual Property. Further, China will improve the intellectual property protection system in emerging fields including algorithms …
CNIPA Releases Revised Measures for Administration of Priority Examination of Patents Excluding Foreigners
Only July 30, 2026, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released the revised Measures for Administration of Priority Examination of Patents (Order No. 85) (专利优先审查管理办法（局令第85号）) effective September 1, 2026. Unlike the United States Patent & Trademark Office’s (USPTO) prioritized examination system, foreigners do not appear eligible to use China’s priority examination system.
China’s National Copyright Administration Releases Draft Amendments to Copyright Law Implementing Regulations
On July 13, 2026, China’s National Copyright Administration (NCA) released the Implementing Regulations of the Copyright Law of the People’s Republic of China (Revised Draft for Public Comment) (中华人民共和国著作权法实施条例（修订草案征求意见稿）) for public consultation. Comments may be submitted by mail or email through August 12.