On March 3, 2026, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released the 2026 Legislative Work Plan of the CNIPA (国家知识产权局2026年立法工作计划). In 2026, CNIPA will concentrate on amending the trademark law, a draft of which was released in December 2025; the regulations for the protection of integrated circuit layout designs, a draft of which was issued in December 2024; the administrative regulations for patent priority examination, a draft of which was released in February 2026; and other legislative projects.
Category: New Law, Rule or Implementing Regulation
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation Releases Regulations on the Protection of Trade Secrets
On February 28, 2026, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) released the Regulations on the Protection of Trade Secrets (商业秘密保护规定). The Regulations provide for an administrative enforcement mechanism for trade secret protection in addition to or in alternative to civil litigation and criminal enforcement. While damages are not available under the Regulations, injunctions and fines of up to 5 million RMB are. The Regulations go into effect June 1, 2026. A translation follows. The original text is available here …
CNIPA Releases Draft Amendments to the Measures for the Administration of Patent Priority Examination
On February 26, 2026, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released the Draft Amendments to the Measures for the Administration of Patent Priority Examination for comment (专利优先审查管理办法修改草案（征求意见稿)). However, despite Article 3 of Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights requiring national treatment, the Draft does not rectify the earlier version to provide a mechanism for foreigners to request priority examination.
CNIPA and MIIT to Focus on Strengthening IP Protection in the Photovoltaic Industry
On December 31, 2025, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released the Opinions on Further Strengthening Intellectual Property Protection in the Photovoltaic Industry (国家知识产权局 工业和信息化部关于进一步加强光伏产业知识产权保护工作的意见). The Opinions specify 11 key tasks: promote high-quality patent filing; improve the efficiency of patent pre-examination and examination; strengthen Intellectual Property risk monitoring and early warning; strengthen the efficient handling of administrative adjudication of disputes; strengthen collaborative protection of Intellectual Property Rights; strengthen the regulation of intellectual …