The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released 2020 Quarter 1 statistics showing a 9.5% jump in invention patent application filings in March 2020 versus March 2019. However, filings are still down 3.6% for the year versus Q1 of 2019. With three quarters remaining, China may still catch up for the year.
Upcoming Webinar on Expediting Patent Examination in China
There are multiple routes to expedite examination of a Chinese patent application besides the Patent Prosecution Highway. In this upcoming webinar, Schwegman’s Director of China Intellectual Property Practice Aaron Wininger will discuss the little-known Prioritized Examination program, the Patent Prosecution Highway, and other programs and strategies to get a faster patent grant in China. A live question-and-answer session follows. Sign up today for this insightful presentation. Date: Thursday, April 23, 2020 Time: 1:00 PM CT Cost: Free Register here: https://www3.slwip.com/international-ip-episode-06
Beijing Fines Alibaba for Malicious Registration of Coronavirus Chinese Trademarks
In an unpublished decision, on March 31, 2020, the Beijing Chaoyang District Market Supervision Administration fined Alibaba Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. an undisclosed amount in 京朝市监工罚（2020）230号 for attempting to register multiple coronavirus-related trademarks in China on behalf of several applicants. Alibaba was acting as a trademark agent knowingly (or should have known) in violation of circumstances specified in Articles 15 and 32 of the Trademark Law. The maximum fine that can be imposed is 100,000 RMB (about $14,000).
Michael Jordan Prevails in Eight-Year Trademark Battle at China’s Supreme People’s Court
In a long-running dispute with Qiaodan Sports Co., Ltd., Michael Jordan recently prevailed at China’s Supreme People’s Court in revoking a trademark for “Qiaodan and Device” (Qiaodan is the transliteration of Jordan into Chinese). The China National Intellectual Property Office (CNIPA) must now reexamine the trademark in light of the Court’s ruling.