China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) announced on April 11, 2024 that it will join the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Improvement Initiative (PPH改进倡议) in cooperation with the IP5 (China, the United States, Europe, Japan and South Korea). The Initiative’s goal is to provide a more predictable examination cycle. Accordingly, CNIPA will aim for an average time to issuance of a first office action from grant of a PPH request at 3 months. Similarly, CNIPA will aim for an average time …
China’s National Intellectual Property Administration Issues Annual Work Guidelines for Promoting High-Quality Development of IP rights (2024)
On April 10, 2024 China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) issued the Annual Work Guidelines for Promoting High-Quality Development of Intellectual Property Rights (2024) (推动知识产权高质量发展年度工作指引(2024)). Per CNIPA, the Guidelines were formulated to “further improve intellectual property work in 2024 and accelerate the promotion of high-quality development of intellectual property.” The main objectives of the Guidelines include improving the quality of patent applications; increase patent conversion; improve patent enforcement including guidance for overseas intellectual property disputes; improve provincial and local government …
3.5-Year Prison Sentence for Counterfeiting Maotai, the National Drink of China
On April 8, 2024 the Shanghai Hongkou District People’s Court announced the sentencing of three defendants for the crime of of selling goods with counterfeit registered trademarks, specifically, Maotai, a brand of baijiu, the national liquor of China. As of January 2022, the police had seized more than 200 bottles of the counterfeit Maotai with a total value of over 500,000 RMB at two stores.
China’s National Intellectual Property Administration Releases 2024 Budget
On March 26, 2024, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration released its 2024 budget (国家知识产权局2024年部门预算). Highlights includes 5.76 billion RMB (~$700 million USD) for patent acceptance and approval; CNIPA expects to examine over 2.026 million patent applications with an examination period of less than 16 months; and total new applications (including invention and utility model applications) is expected to be equal or greater than 4.79 million applications.