On April 29, 2026, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released the Annual Work Guidelines for Demonstration and Creation of a Strong Intellectual Property Nation (2026) (知识产权强国建设示范创建年度工作指引（2026)). On patent quality, the Guidelines reinforce the policy shift away from quantity-based metrics: project review, institutional evaluation, enterprise recognition, talent assessment, and title evaluation are to emphasize patent quality and industrialization prospects, and pre-filing evaluation mechanisms centered on industrialization prospects are to be implemented across universities, research institutions, and enterprises. Fabricated patents and …
Category: New Law, Rule or Implementing Regulation
China’s Supreme People’s Court Releases Implementation Plan for Judicial Protection of Intellectual Property Rights by People’s Courts (2026-2030)
On April 20, 2026, China’s Supreme People’s Court (SPC) released the Implementation Plan for Judicial Protection of Intellectual Property Rights by People’s Courts (2026-2030) (人民法院知识产权司法保护实施方案(2026—2030年)) setting out the framework for IP adjudication during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The Implementation Plan identifies technology sectors targeted for strengthened judicial protection, including integrated circuits, industrial machine tools, high-end instruments, basic software, advanced materials, biomanufacturing, high-end equipment, aerospace, and new energy. It addresses adjudication rules for artificial intelligence matters, including the legal attributes …
China’s Supreme People’s Court Releases Interpretation on the Application of Punitive Damages in the Trial of Civil Disputes Involving Intellectual Property Infringement
On April 20, 2026, China’s Supreme People’s Court released the Interpretation on the Application of Punitive Damages in the Trial of Civil Disputes Involving Intellectual Property Infringement (关于审理侵害知识产权民事纠纷案件适用惩罚性赔偿的解释) effective May 1, 2026. The Interpretation clarifies the criteria for determining intent, clarifies base figure calculations for damages, and clarifies how to calculate the punitive damages multiplier.
Guangdong Explicitly Links Patent Pre-Examination With Patent Prosecution Highway Eligibility
On April 14, 2026, the Guangdong Intellectual Property Protection Center released the Notice from Guangdong Provincial Intellectual Property Protection Center on Actively Promoting the Organic Integration of Patent Pre-examination and Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) (广东省知识产权保护中心关于积极推进专利预审与PPH有机衔接的通知). The Notice explicitly links requesting pre-examination of a patent application in Guangdong to enable a quick allowance at the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and then quick examination via the PPH at foreign patent offices. Pre-examination, which is free, can yield a Chinese patent …