On December 20, 2025, China’s Supreme People’s Court (SPC) released the Draft Interpretation (III) on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Patent Infringement Disputes (最高人民法院关于审理侵犯专利权纠纷案件应用法律若干问题的解释（三)) for comment. The Interpretation contains 31 articles covering issues such as jurisdiction, standing to sue, interpretation of claims, infringement comparison, defense of non-infringement, change of circumstances, malicious litigation, and compensation. Some highlights include: Article 3 – no forum shopping by shipping to a favorable jurisdiction. Article 4 – litigation can …
Category: Patents
China’s National Intellectual Property Administration Releases Opinions on Strengthening the Operation and Management of Intellectual Property Protection Centers and Rapid Rights Protection Centers
On December 10, 2025, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released the Opinions on Strengthening the Operation and Management of Intellectual Property Protection Centers and Rapid Rights Protection Centers to Promote High-Quality and Collaborative Intellectual Property Protection (国家知识产权局关于加强知识产权保护中心和快速维权中心运行管理 高质量推进知识产权快速协同保护工作的意见). The Opinions aim to “promote the high-standard construction and high-quality operation of national-level intellectual property protection centers and rapid enforcement centers, effectively supporting the development of a unified national market and boosting high-quality economic growth.” One of the main goals of …
CNIPA November 2025 Press Conference: More Details on Examination of AI Patents and the Chinese IP Firm Rectification Campaign
On November 28, 2025, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) held a press conference that provided more details about the recently revised Guidelines for Patent Examination for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the recently announced Rectification Campaign on IP firms and IP practitioners that includes the Ministry of Public Security. Excerpts follow.
China’s National Intellectual Property Administration Releases Revised Guidelines for Patent Examination Effective January 1, 2026
On November 13, 2025, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released the Decision of the CNIPA on Revising the Guidelines for Patent Examination (国家知识产权局关于修改《专利审查指南》的决定). The Decision, effective January 1, 2026, revises the Guidelines, which are roughly analogous to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office’s (USPTO) Manual for Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP). The revisions clarify the relationship between patent protection and the new plant variety protection; provides examples of rejections based on social, public interest in illegality rationales; provides examples for …